A massive study reveals: these are the 2 professions with the highest risk of cancer mortality

Anyone boarding a plane as a passenger is exposed to a small amount of radiation originating from space. But what happens when you spend hundreds or even thousands of hours a year at an altitude of ten kilometers? A large-scale American study points to a disturbing finding: out of more than 500 professions examined, flight attendants and pilots showed the highest mortality rates from cancers linked to radiation exposure.

The study, published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine, was based on data from over 12 million death certificates in the United States that included professional information. Researchers sought to determine whether continuous exposure to cosmic radiation at high altitudes could manifest as increased cancer mortality.

The results are striking: flight attendants were found to have approximately 50% higher chances of dying from radiation-linked cancers compared to the general working population. Among pilots, the chances were about 36% higher.

Radiation we barely feel on the ground

Cosmic radiation is high-energy radiation reaching Earth from space. The atmosphere provides a significant protective layer, keeping exposure at ground level relatively low. As altitude increases, the atmospheric shield thins, and exposure rises.

This is why flying is more than just moving between countries; for hours, the body is in an environment different from that on the ground. While occasional vacationers face little risk, flight crews face prolonged and repeated exposure.

Researchers note that flight crew members receive the highest average annual effective dose of ionizing radiation among worker groups in the United States, primarily due to cosmic rays at commercial flight altitudes.

Analyzing 12 million deaths

While previous studies hinted at links between aviation work and certain cancers, many were small or focused on specific tumors. This study took a broader approach, analyzing national data from over 12 million death certificates across 500 professions.

The focus was on cancers previously linked to radiation, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and tumors of the skin, breast, thyroid, prostate, and central nervous system.

When ranked, flight attendants reached the top spot for deaths from these cancers, with pilots in second place. Data showed that 6.9% of deaths among flight attendants and 6.7% among pilots were from radiation-linked cancers, compared to about 5% for the general working population.

A telling detail

A key question is whether radiation is truly responsible. Could lifestyle factors be the cause? Interestingly, researchers found no abnormal mortality from non-radiation-linked cancers among these groups. Radiation experts Catherine Olsen and Ken Karipidis, who wrote an accompanying commentary, noted that this pattern strengthens the case that occupational radiation exposure is the primary driver of excess mortality, rather than lifestyle or socioeconomic differences.

However, it is important to be cautious. This is an observational study based on death certificates. Researchers did not have data on individual flight hours, routes, or cumulative radiation doses. Other factors, such as night flights, time zone changes, and disrupted biological clocks, may also play a role.

What does this mean for passengers?

These findings are not a reason to fear occasional vacation flights. The study focuses on occupational risk for those spending a significant portion of their lives in the air. However, for pilots and flight attendants, researchers believe the results justify a more serious approach to cumulative exposure. In the United States, despite authorities acknowledging the exposure, there are currently no federal mandates for routine personal radiation monitoring for crew members.

While the study does not definitively prove that professional flying causes cancer, the fact that the top two spots belong to those who work in the sky is a finding that is difficult to ignore.