News Release

High rates of skin cancer among airline pilots

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

Rates of skin cancer among airline pilots are up to 10 times higher than expected, shows research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Pilots regularly flying over five time zones seem to be at particular risk, the research shows, suggesting that disturbances in circadian rhythms may be implicated.

Rates and types of cancer were assessed in 458 pilots, 265 of whom flew the national Icelandic airline across European and transAtlantic routes. These were then compared with the rates of cancer expected to develop in the population as a whole, gathered from data supplied by the national cancer registry, according to age.

Rates of skin cancer (malignant melanoma) were the highest for all types of cancers. They were 10 times higher than would be expected, and over 15 times as high for those flying international routes. Skin cancer was also 13 times more common among those taking longer flights and those exposed to higher levels of radiation it was up to 28 times higher. Pilots flying over five or more time zones had a 25-fold greater risk. The additional annual radiation dose for pilots in this study was estimated at 1 to 2 milliSieverts, lower that that estimated for UK and US pilots and well within accepted levels of occupational exposure.

There may be several factors involved, suggest the authors, pointing out that lifestyle, including sunbathing, may have a role. Nevertheless, the increased rate of skin cancer among long haul pilots suggests that disturbances in circadian rhythms, and therefore in melatonin, the hormone critical to regulating sleep patterns, may have a part to play.

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[Incidence of cancer among commercial airline pilots] 2000;57:175?9


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