Pilots and flight attendants face highest radiation-related cancer death risk

cosmic radiation aircrew health cancer mortality occupational safety flight crew

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found that flight attendants and pilots face the highest risks of dying from radiation-related cancers among more than 500 occupations in the United States. Researchers from Harvard Medical School analyzed nearly 13 million death certificates from the US National Vital Statistics System between 2020 and 2024 to reach these conclusions.

The research indicates that radiation-related cancer deaths accounted for 6.9% of deaths among flight attendants and 6.7% among pilots. This risk is attributed to high-altitude exposure to galactic cosmic radiation, which is more intense than at sea level. Aircrew members receive an average annual ionizing radiation dose of approximately 3 to 6 millisieverts, significantly higher than the 0.4 millisieverts received by a passenger on ten intercontinental flights.

The study identified increased mortality rates for several specific cancers, including breast, prostate, thyroid, and central nervous system cancers, as well as melanoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. The findings suggest a critical need for occupational radiation protections for aircrew members that are commensurate with their actual exposure levels.

Entities

Anupam Jena · Brigham and Women's Hospital · Brigham and Women’s Hospital · Federal Aviation Administration · Harvard Medical School · JAMA Internal Medicine · National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine · National Vital Statistics System · Vishal Patel

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 12 SOURCES] The increased risk is attributed to exposure to galactic cosmic radiation at high altitudes. www.it-boltwise.de · www.lebardegandi.net · gizmodo.com · www.news-medical.net · www.connectedtoindia.com · +7 more
[● 12 SOURCES] The study analyzed nearly 13 million death certificates from the US National Vital Statistics System between 2020 and 2024. paramais.com.br · gizmodo.com · www.medonet.pl · www.news-medical.net · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · +7 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The study was led by Vishal Patel, a researcher from Harvard Medical School. www.it-boltwise.de · www.lebardegandi.net · paramais.com.br · gizmodo.com · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · +6 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Aircrew members receive the highest average annual dose of ionizingizing radiation of any occupation in the United States. www.lebardegandi.net · gizmodo.com · www.news-medical.net · www.medonet.pl · www.connectedtoindia.com · +2 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The findings suggest a need for occupational radiation protections for aircrew members commensurate with their exposure levels. www.lebardegandi.net · gizmodo.com · www.news-medical.net · www.connectedtoindia.com · www.webtekno.com
[● 9 SOURCES] Radiation-related cancers studied included breast cancer, central nervous system cancers, multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma. paramais.com.br · www.medonet.pl · exame.com · www.news-medical.net · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · +4 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Radiation-related cancer deaths accounted for 6.9% of deaths among flight attendants and 6.7% among pilots. www.it-boltwise.de · paramais.com.br · www.medonet.pl · exame.com · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · +6 more
[● 14 SOURCES] Flight attendants and pilots have the highest proportions of radiation-related cancer deaths among 503 occupations studied in the US. www.it-boltwise.de · www.lebardegandi.net · paramais.com.br · gizmodo.com · www.thueringer-allgemeine.de · +9 more