Flying High, Healing Slow: Study Links Air Travel to DNA Repair Issues in Flight Attendants (5 minutes reading) 

A new study has found that frequent air travel may harm the body’s ability to fix damaged DNA in flight attendants. This could explain why they face higher risks of cancer and reproductive problems. The research looked at blood samples from nine flight attendants before and after flights. It found signs of inflammation and weaker DNA repair after flying, especially in fixing damage caused by radiation and oxidative stress.

Flight attendants are exposed to cosmic radiation, poor cabin air, and stressful work conditions. These factors may damage their DNA and weaken their immune systems. Although the study was small, it showed that some DNA repair systems worked less effectively after flights. This could lead to long-term health problems like cancer.

The study suggests that flying might both increase DNA damage and reduce the body’s ability to fix it. More research is needed, but the findings highlight the need for better health protections for flight crews.

Source: LINK