Among more than 500 professions, commercial air crew face the highest risk of dying from radiation-linked cancers, according to a study published this week.
An analysis of over 12 million death certificates found that flight attendants had the highest percentage of deaths from radiation-connected cancers, and pilots the second highest. The study, published by JAMA Internal Medicine, found that both professions saw an unusually high fatality rate from those cancers compared to other lines of work, including ones involving the handling of radioactive materials.
Overall, the odds of a flight attendant dying from a radiation-related cancer were about 50% higher than the general working population, and pilots had higher odds of about 36%.
The researchers narrowed their focus to cancers that are known to be connected to radiation exposure, including leukemia, lymphoma, skin cancer, breast cancer, and thyroid cancer.
Interestingly, pilots and flight attendants did not show higher death rates for cancers that are not connected to radiation.
Pilots and flight attendants are exposed to significantly more cosmic radiation than the general public due to their frequent flights. Smaller studies have suggested a potential link between that radiation and higher rates of cancer in those jobs, but the data is not definitive, and the elevated risk, if any, is generally not well publicized.
The FAA acknowledges that air crew face higher levels of radiation but does not currently measure or track that exposure.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, told ABC News this week that the issue must be taken more seriously.
“The risk is known, but crew are not educated or informed. And no one is taking responsibility,” Nelson said.
The authors acknowledged some limitations on their study, including a lack of information about the amount of radiation pilots and flight attendants are exposed to. They also noted that lifestyle factors that come with those jobs, including irregular schedules, sleep disruption, and jet lag, can negatively affect overall health.
