Cabin crew at greater risk of radiation‑based cancer than nuclear technologists, new study suggests

A new study suggests that cabin crew and pilots may face a higher risk of radiation-related cancers compared to nuclear technologists. Researchers analyzed over 12.7 million death records from 2020-2024, covering more than 500 occupations, and found that 6.9% of cabin crew deaths and 6.7% of pilot deaths were due to radiation-related cancers like breast cancer, leukemia, brain tumors, prostate cancer, and melanoma.

This pattern was not seen for non-radiation-related cancers or among ground-based aircraft workers. The primary reason for this increased risk lies in the fact that aircraft travel exposes individuals to higher levels of cosmic radiation. Cosmic radiation, primarily originating from outside the solar system, consists of extremely energetic particles that can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and gain more intensity at higher altitudes.

At typical commercial aviation altitudes, radiation doses approximately double for each additional 1,830 meters (6,000 feet) of altitude. The metal skin of an aircraft offers little protection against these particles, and the magnetic field of the Earth, which provides a protective shield, is weaker at high latitudes, where flights often occur.

While the individual doses may be small, pilots and cabin crew are exposed to these radiation levels repeatedly over many years, resulting in an estimated annual radiation exposure of 3-6 millisieverts for these professionals. This cumulative exposure significantly increases their risk of developing radiation-related cancers over time.