A study published in Environmental Health and summarized in The Independent (U.K.) found that flight attendants had increased risk of several types of cancer plus the longer they flew the greater that risk became. Cited as factors were exposure to high-altitude radiation, poor air quality, and disturbed sleep patterns.
My question, not answered by the study, is whether pilots and copilots experience these same increased risks? If not, the issue may be gender related as pilots are predominantly male and flight attendants are mostly female. Also not mentioned is whether increased viral exposure could be a factor in recycled cabin air.
