Study finds pilots and flight attendants face elevated risk of radiation-linked cancers

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine examined over 12 million death certificates and identified that flight attendants and pilots have the highest proportion of deaths from radiation-related cancers among more than 500 occupations. The researchers reported that flight attendants faced about a 50% increase in odds of dying from such cancers, while pilots had a 36% increase, compared with the general working population.

The analysis focused on cancers linked to ionizing radiation, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and cancers of the skin, breast, thyroid, prostate and central nervous system. The authors noted that neither group showed elevated mortality from cancers not associated with radiation, suggesting occupational exposure rather than lifestyle factors as the primary driver.

"You can’t manage an exposure you’ve decided not to measure," said Dr. Vishal Patel of Harvard Medical School, the study’s lead author. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, added that crew members have long been told the risk exists but have not received adequate education or responsibility from regulators.

The Federal Aviation Administration acknowledges ionizing radiation exposure for aircrew but does not set federal dose limits or require monitoring. The authors highlighted limitations, including unknown individual exposure levels and possible misclassification of occupations on death certificates. They also mentioned that irregular schedules and jet lag could compound cancer risk.

Commentary from radiation experts suggested that regular skin examinations and earlier or more frequent mammograms for female crew members may be warranted, and that physicians should maintain a heightened suspicion for cancer when treating pilots and flight attendants.