Flight attendants at increased risk for breast and skin cancers

Flight attendants showed elevated incidence of several types of cancer compared with the general population, according to findings published in Environmental Health.

Among female flight attendants, the elevated incidence appeared especially pronounced for breast cancer (SPR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.02-2.24), melanoma (SPR = 2.27; 95% CI, 1.27-4.06) and nonmelanoma skin cancer (SPR = 4.09; 95% CI, 4.7-6.2). Women who had three or more children had an increased incidence of breast cancer which appeared consistent with previous studies.

Male flight attendants demonstrated a modest increase in prevalence of melanoma (SPR = 1.47, 95% CI, 0.72-3.01) and nonmelanoma skin cancers (SPR = 1.11, 95% CI, 0.78-1.59).

Standardized prevalence ratios were increased among male and female flight attendants who had experienced significant job-related secondhand smoke.

The researchers wrote that the results indicated flight attendants in the U.S. should be monitored for radiation exposure and should have their schedules arranged to minimize exposure to radiation and disruption to circadian rhythms.

https://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/breast-cancer/news/in-the-journals/%7B779e759c-6208-4bc5-9832-00ea4444d4c5%7D/flight-attendants-at-increased-risk-for-breast-skin-cancers?nc=1#searc