Aircrew top US occupations for radiation-linked cancer deaths in death-certificate analysis

Flight attendants (6.9%) and pilots (6.7%) had the highest risk-adjusted percentages of radiation-related cancer deaths among 503 US occupations, exceeding nuclear technologists; a linked editorial urges earlier, more frequent mammography for female aircrew.

• The analysis covered 12.7 million deceased individuals across 503 occupations, including over 14,000 pilots and more than 7,000 flight attendants.
• Aircraft mechanics and assemblers, used as a negative control, did not show increased risk; nuclear technologists ranked 12th.
• Statistically significant elevated odds ratios were found for breast, central nervous system, prostate, and melanoma cancers in both pilots and flight attendants.

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