Study Finds Flight Crew Face Highest Mortality Risk from Radiation-Linked Cancers

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine examined more than 12 million U.S. death certificates and found that flight attendants and pilots have the highest proportion of deaths attributed to radiation-related cancers among over 500 occupations. The research identified elevated odds of dying from leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and cancers of the skin, breast, thyroid, prostate and central nervous system for these groups.

Flight attendants showed about a 50% higher odds of radiation-linked cancer death compared with the general working population, while pilots had roughly a 36% increase, according to the study’s lead author, Dr. Vishal Patel of Harvard Medical School. In absolute terms, 6.9% of flight attendant deaths and 6.7% of pilot deaths were due to these cancers, versus 5% for other workers.

"You can't manage an exposure you've decided not to measure," Patel said in an email.

The authors noted limitations, including lack of individual exposure data and possible misclassification of occupations on death certificates. They also mentioned that irregular schedules and jet lag could exacerbate cancer risk.

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledges ionizing radiation exposure for aircrews but does not set dose limits or require monitoring. Union leader Sara Nelson, who heads the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said the findings underscore the need for better education and responsibility regarding radiation risks.

"The risk is known, but crew are not educated or informed. And, no one is taking responsibility," Nelson said.

Experts suggest that crew members may benefit from regular skin examinations and, for women, earlier or more frequent mammograms. Physicians are advised to maintain a heightened suspicion for cancer when treating pilots and flight attendants.