Study reveals increased cancer risk for flight attendants
A new study appears to give credence that working as a flight attendant can increase the risk of more health issues than previously thought.
Reaserch by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that cancer risks in US flight attendants were higher than in the general population.
The researchers evaluated self-reported data from more than 5,000 male and female US flight attendants and found a higher risk in a number of cancers when compared to similar age and economic status profiles in the general public.
In some cases the heightened risk is significant.
The medical profession has long known of the bigger risks in contracting breast cancer and melanoma, but the latest research now expands that to other cancer conditions.
Flight attendants seem to have a higher risk of all rge cancers they researched including gastrointestinal, non-melanoma skin cancer and thyroid cancer.
Gastrointestinal cancer was found in 0.47% of female flight crew, compared to 0.27% in the general population, and melanoma skin cancer of male FA’s was about 40% higher.
"Something that somewhat surprised us, to some extent, was that we also saw a higher instance of breast cancer in women with three or more children," lead researcher Irina Mordukhovich said.
"Combine that with this disruption from the job, especially for those who fly internationally, this may be an indication that the circadian rhythm disruption is having an impact."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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