Flight attendants may have an increased risk of certain cancers: Study

Working at 36,000 feet can cause a medical problem: flight attendants may be at increased risk of cancer compared to those of us who do not fly as often, reveals a new study.

This survey interviewed more than 5,300 flight attendants (80% were women) and compared them to approximately 2,700 individuals with similar income and education but working in the field as part of the training. 39, Harvard study.

The survey used validated questions from the Job Content Questionnaire and from the National Survey on Medical and Nutritional Examination (NHANES). Of those surveyed, 91% were current flight attendants and 9% were former flight attendants.

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Why are cancer rates higher for flight attendants?

This group of workers has not studied much, despite clear factors related to the increased risk of cancer: they are exposed to radiation from the upper atmosphere, to constant disturbances of their sleep-wake cycle and to contact with cabin chemicals such as pesticides and flame retardants.

One of the most unusual risks is cosmic ionizing radiation (radiation from the space that enters airplanes). During their flying time in the upper atmosphere, they are not protected from this radiation by 35,000 feet of air, as they are on the ground. Ionizing radiation is particularly damaging to DNA, and damaged DNA can cause cancer.

There is little documentation on this topic and further research is needed to evaluate the association between flight exposure and cancer among cabin crew members, monitor their exposure to ionizing radiation and find ways to minimize this exposure.

What cancer risks are increasing for flight attendants?

Female flight attendants had a higher prevalence of all cancers, especially breast cancer and skin cancer – including melanoma (the deadliest deadly cancer) and others types of skin cancer, such as basal and scaly cells. This news is distinguished in part because flight attendants avoid many other common risk factors for cancer, such as smoking and obesity.

"Our findings of higher rates of several cancers among flight attendants are striking given the low rates of overweight and smoking in our study population, highlighting the potential to reduce current exposures and cancers among members." d & # 39; crew. " Irina Mordukhovich, senior author and research associate at Harvard University Chan School of Public Health.

The amount of time in the air counts clearly; Working for five years as a flight attendant increased the risk of skin cancer other than melanoma, but was not significantly associated with breast cancer or melanoma.

What were the limitations of this study?

This study is limited in several ways: it uses self-reported health information and only assesses a point in time. The flight attendants were recruited and then people volunteered to answer the polls (this is called selection bias – people with cancer or without cancer were more likely to want participate).

It is also possible that some of these cancers occurred earlier in life, unrelated to their occupation, since they did not ask when the cancers occurred.

The study can not say that being a flight attendant "causes" cancer; he can only make an observation that they seem related.

How can cancer risks be minimized for flight attendants?

The United States, according to the study's authors, must catch up with the European Union (EU), which uses protections for its flight attendants. It requires airlines to monitor the radiation dose (especially for pregnant women), establish schedules to reduce radiation exposure and inform workers of ongoing studies.

What about customers who travel frequently?

Dr. Mordukhovich does not know of any cancer risk studies among frequent travelers, but they may be exposed to ionizing radiation and possible changes in their sleep-wake cycles. 30 hours of flight from exposure to ionizing radiation would equate to a chest X-ray, but they spend much less time in the air than a flight crew.

As airline policy evolves to catch up with research, flight attendants and frequent flyers can now take steps to protect themselves from possible carcinogens. Wearing sunscreen on board a plane, sleeping on a normal sleep schedule on days when it does not fly, exercise and eat healthy food , all this will help.

Dr. Karine Tawagi is an internal medicine intern in Ann Arbor, Michigan, working in the ABC News Medical Unit.

Petrina Craine is a medical resident in emergency medicine in Oakland, California, working in the ABC News Medical Unit.