BACKGROUND: Commercial airline crew is one of the occupational groups with the highest exposures to ionising radiation. Crew members are also exposed to other physical risk factors and subject to potential disruption of circadian rhythms. METHODS: This study analyses mortality in a pooled cohort of 93 771 crew members from 10 countries. The cohort was followed for a mean of 21.7 years (2.0 million person-years), during which 5508 deaths occurred. RESULTS: The overall mortality was strongly reduced in male cockpit (SMR 0.56) and female cabin crews (SMR 0.73). The mortality from radiation-related cancers was also reduced in male cockpit crew (SMR 0.73), but not in female or male cabin crews (SMR 1.01 and 1.00, respectively). The mortality from female breast cancer (SMR 1.06), leukaemia and brain cancer was similar to that of the general population. The mortality from malignant melanoma was elevated, and significantly so in male cockpit crew (SMR 1.57). The mortality from cardiovascular diseases was strongly reduced (SMR 0.46). On the other hand, the mortality from aircraft accidents was exceedingly high (SMR 33.9), as was that from AIDS in male cabin crew (SMR 14.0). CONCLUSIONS: This large study with highly complete follow-up shows a reduced overall mortality in male cockpit and female cabin crews, an increased mortality of aircraft accidents and an increased mortality in malignant skin melanoma in cockpit crew. Further analysis after longer follow-up is recommended.
BACKGROUND: Commercial airline crew is one of the occupational groups with the highest exposures to ionising radiation. Crew members are also exposed to other physical risk factors and subject to potential disruption of circadian rhythms. METHODS: This study analyses mortality in a pooled cohort of 93 771 crew members from 10 countries. The cohort was followed for a mean of 21.7 years (2.0 million person-years), during which 5508 deaths occurred. RESULTS: The overall mortality was strongly reduced in male cockpit (SMR 0.56) and female cabin crews (SMR 0.73). The mortality from radiation-related cancers was also reduced in male cockpit crew (SMR 0.73), but not in female or male cabin crews (SMR 1.01 and 1.00, respectively). The mortality from female breast cancer (SMR 1.06), leukaemia and brain cancer was similar to that of the general population. The mortality from malignant melanoma was elevated, and significantly so in male cockpit crew (SMR 1.57). The mortality from cardiovascular diseases was strongly reduced (SMR 0.46). On the other hand, the mortality from aircraft accidents was exceedingly high (SMR 33.9), as was that from AIDS in male cabin crew (SMR 14.0). CONCLUSIONS: This large study with highly complete follow-up shows a reduced overall mortality in male cockpit and female cabin crews, an increased mortality of aircraft accidents and an increased mortality in malignant skin melanoma in cockpit crew. Further analysis after longer follow-up is recommended.
Authors: W Rühm; E Fantuzzi; R Harrison; H Schuhmacher; F Vanhavere; J Alves; J F Bottollier Depois; P Fattibene; Ž Knežević; M A Lopez; S Mayer; S Miljanić; S Neumaier; P Olko; H Stadtmann; R Tanner; C Woda Journal: Radiat Prot Dosimetry Date: 2015-03-09 Impact factor: 0.972
Authors: Nanfu Deng; Nora M Haney; Taylor P Kohn; Alexander W Pastuszak; Larry I Lipshultz Journal: Curr Urol Rep Date: 2018-05-28 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Daniel Wollschläger; Gaël Paul Hammer; Thomas Schafft; Steffen Dreger; Maria Blettner; Hajo Zeeb Journal: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol Date: 2017-09-20 Impact factor: 5.563
Authors: Mary K Schubauer-Berigan; Jeri L Anderson; Misty J Hein; Mark P Little; Alice J Sigurdson; Lynne E Pinkerton Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2015-03 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: Gaël P Hammer; Katharina Emrich; Michael Nasterlack; Maria Blettner; Mei Yong Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2015-07-06 Impact factor: 5.594