Frequent flying: A serious risk for leukemia

Ithought that these findings were new. However, checking on the research literature indicated that the connection between frequent flyers and cancer risks, particularly leukemia, had been around since the turn of the 21st century.

In 2010, Robert J. Barish and Stephan Dilchert reported in Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal (Volume 22, Issue 4), that flyers—such as business travelers and employees who are required to travel a lot—are a hundred times more exposed to cosmic radiation than those like us ordinary mortals at ground level.

Frequent flyers usually travel at least 137,000 kilometers annually. These so-called “radiation workers” become exposed to a lifetime risk for leukemia. Children of pregnant mothers, who become exposed to cosmic radiation, can develop this kind of childhood cancer.

This is also the reason why pilots and in-flight workers could have higher radiation risks than hospital radiology workers. More so, airline workers do not wear a “radiation badge” unlike hospital workers.

In an earlier study (2004), Barish reported that the maximum exposure limit for radiation among the general population is one millisievert, which is monitored annually by hospitals for their radiology department workers. Barish noted that traveling round-trip in intercontinental or transcontinental flights can reach the limit after around six trips abroad. The number of trips can be less if these flights become transpolar or when sun storms occur.

The primary factors involved are the high altitude involved and the length of exposure during hours of these lights. Thus, national flights, which are relatively shorter and in lower altitudes, need around 12 flights for the annual cosmic radiation exposure limit to be reached.

This is a sad fact considering that the risk involved runs contrary to the privileges of frequent flyers that airline companies offer their customers. You are supposed to enjoy your frequent flyer privileges and not fear the serious risk of dying of leukemia.

But the threat is real. And those of us who wish to live longer may have to take actions in their work behaviors and lifestyle choices.