Source
Occup Environ Med 2003 Nov; 60(11):805-806
Abstract
Recent reports highlighting increased cancer incidence and mortality among airline pilots and cabin crew have raised concerns about potential exposure of these workers to known or suspected carcinogens, in particular cosmic ionising radiation. Higher radiation dose rates are found at higher altitudes and in the polar regions, and mean doses to flight crew have been increasing over time as longer flights at higher altitudes have become more frequent. Other possible hazards that may play a role in cancer risk for flight crew include irregular working hours and disturbances of circadian rhythm.
Keywords
Pilots; Flight-personnel; Cancer; Occupational-exposure; Work-environment; Carcinogens; Radiation-exposure; Occupational-hazards; Mortality-data; Skin-cancer; Circadian-rhythms; Shift-work
Contact
Dr. E A Whelan, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-15, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
ewhelan@cdc.gov
Source Name
Occupational and Environmental Medicine