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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Mike Stobbe

Flight attendants and pilots have the highest risk of dying from certain cancers, study finds

Routine annual skin examinations may be recommended for everyone working aboard high-altitude flights - (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Commercial flight crews, including both pilots and flight attendants, face a significantly higher risk of dying from radiation-related cancers than workers who directly handle radioactive materials on the ground, according to new research.

Cosmic radiation originates from outer space. Only a fraction of these high-energy particles reaches the Earth's surface, but human exposure increases substantially for individuals who fly frequently at high altitudes.

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