Pilots, flight attendants have greater risk of radiation-related cancer death than other professions
Of more than 500 occupations in the United States, flight attendants and pilots have the highest and second-highest proportions of radiation-related cancer deaths, a new study has found.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has revealed that pilots and flight attendants face a higher risk of radiation-related cancer mortality compared to other professions in the United States. According to the research, these aircrew members have the highest and second-highest proportions of radiation-related cancer deaths among the 503 occupations studied.
Led by Anupam Jena and Vishal Patel, the team analyzed data from nearly 13 million decedents across various occupations, focusing on those who died between 2020 and 2024. The study found that pilots had a 6.7% higher rate of radiation-related cancer deaths, while flight attendants had a 6.9% higher rate. The increased risk was primarily observed in breast, central nervous system, prostate, and melanoma cancers, with pilots also experiencing a higher rate of leukemia deaths.
The researchers suggest that the elevated mortality rates among aircrew members warrant the need for enhanced occupational radiation protections, similar to those provided to other radiation-exposed workers in other countries. Despite their significant exposure to cosmic radiation during flights, U.S. aircrew are not subject to federal dose limits or monitoring requirements, unlike their counterparts in other nations.
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