Radiation link in flight attendant’s breast cancer, French court finds

A French court has made a groundbreaking ruling, recognizing cosmic radiation as a contributing factor to breast cancer in a former flight attendant. Sophie Lainault, a 59-year-old former stewardess with Air France, sought to have her cancer deemed an occupational disease. The court ruled that cosmic radiation, along with passive smoking and prolonged night work, are three carcinogenic hazards associated with her profession.

Lainault, who completed 12,600 flight hours between 1989 and 2019, including many at night and near the North Pole, where radiation exposure is the most intense, can now retire early and have any further treatment fully reimbursed by the French health system. This landmark decision not only validates Lainault's cancer as an occupational risk for flight attendants but also opens the door for numerous other similar claims.

Lainault expressed her hope that the ruling would encourage other women to seek recognition of their occupational health risks. The court's decision highlights the higher prevalence of radiation-related cancers among flight crews compared to other professions, with about 6.9% of deaths among flight attendants and 6.7% among pilots attributed to such cancers.