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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 18, 2026Miami-Dade

Study finds flight attendants and pilots have highest risk of radiation-linked cancer deaths

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine identifies flight attendants and pilots as having the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers among 500 occupations. The research suggests that cosmic radiation exposure at high altitudes may be a primary factor, as these workers show elevated death rates specifically for radiation-linked cancers but not for other types.

public healthaviationoccupational safetycancer research
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Why It Matters

The study highlights a potential occupational health risk for aviation workers, noting that the Federal Aviation Administration currently does not set radiation dose limits or require monitoring for aircrews.

Key Facts

  • Flight attendants have the highest percentage of deaths from radiation-related cancers among 500 occupations studied.
  • Pilots have the second-highest percentage of deaths from radiation-related cancers.
  • Flight attendants have approximately 50% higher odds of dying from radiation-related cancer than the general working population.
  • Pilots have approximately 36% higher odds of dying from radiation-related cancer than the general working population.
  • About 6.9% of flight attendant deaths are attributed to radiation-related cancers, or roughly 1 in 14.
  • About 6.7% of pilot deaths are attributed to radiation-related cancers.
  • The general working population has a 5% rate of death from radiation-related cancers.
  • The study analyzed data from more than 12 million death certificates.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration does not currently set federal dose limits or require monitoring for aircrew radiation exposure.
  • The study authors could not account for potential cancer risks caused by disrupted internal body clocks due to jet lag and irregular schedules.

Who's Mentioned

personCatherine Olsen“Radiation expert who wrote an accompanying commentary.”personSara Nelson“President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.”other14“Ratio of flight attendant deaths attributed to radiation-related cancers (1 in 1”organizationAssociation of Flight Attendants-CWA“Union representing 55,000 flight attendants.”personVishal Patel“Lead author of the study from Harvard Medical School.”personKen Karipidis“Radiation expert who wrote an accompanying commentary.”organizationJAMA Internal Medicine“Journal that published the study.”other500“Number of occupations analyzed in the study.”organizationFederal Aviation Administration“Federal agency responsible for aviation safety.”