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However, it is also possible that there are factors unrelated to flight attendant jobs, said Dr. Paolo Boffetta, professor of oncology and environmental medicine at the medical school. Icahn of Mount Sinai, New York.
"For example, they may have more UV [sun] exposure because of their opportunity to travel, "said Boffetta, who was not involved in the study.
In addition, he added, women who are crew members may not have children or have fewer children compared to other women. And reproductive factors like this are associated with the risk of breast cancer.
Yet, McNeely said, his team found evidence that the more flight attendants had been at work, the higher their risk of cancer. In women, the risk of melanoma-free skin cancer has increased along with occupational seniority.
This supports the theory that occupational exposures are the culprits, McNeely said.
The results, published on June 25 in the journal Environmental health, are based on 5,366 flight attendants who were part of an ongoing Harvard study started in 2007.
They were asked about their health in 2014-2015, when they were on average 52 years old. The McNeely team compared cancer rates with a nationally representative sample of 2,729 adults with similar demographic characteristics.
Overall, 3.4% of women were diagnosed with breast cancer compared to 2.3% of other US women. Meanwhile, 2.2% had been diagnosed with melanoma, compared to just under 1% of other women.
The biggest difference was observed in non-melanoma skin cancer rates – which are highly curable. More than 7% of flight attendants were diagnosed with cancer, compared to just under 2% of other women.
Male flight attendants had higher rates of skin cancer than other men. But the differences were not significant in statistical terms.
According to McNeely, the conclusions will be "not news" for crews. They have long known that their profession could be linked to increased cancer risk.
The question is, if the causes are unclear, what can be done? McNeely noted that the European Union has already taken action – requiring air crews to be monitored for radiation exposure. If she reaches a certain level, their work schedules are adjusted.
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