Flight attendants and pilots have highest risk of dying from radiation-linked cancers, study says

Key Points:

• A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that flight attendants and pilots have the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers compared to over 500 occupations, surpassing even those working directly with radioactive materials.
• The research analyzed more than 12 million death certificates and found flight attendants had about 50% higher odds and pilots about 36% higher odds of dying from cancers linked to radiation exposure, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer.
• The study suggests occupational cosmic radiation exposure at high altitudes is the likely cause, as these groups did not show increased death rates from cancers unrelated to radiation, ruling out lifestyle or socioeconomic factors.
• Limitations include unknown individual radiation doses and inability to account for cancer risks related to circadian rhythm disruption from irregular schedules and jet lag.
• Experts and union leaders call for better radiation exposure monitoring, crew education, and enhanced cancer screening protocols for flight crews, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and responsibility regarding this occupational hazard.