The Big C
09-11-2009 | 06:39 AM
#21
On Reserve
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
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From: MD-11 Captain
The FDX radiation badge is for certain waves of radiation that will be in our cargo. It does not pick up cosmic of other types of radiation.
As for the melanoma, all pilots should be wearing sunscreen.
It was my understanding that there really hasn't been a large study done on pilots and cancer rates, and any info out there is based on a very narrow cross section of pilots.
As for the melanoma, all pilots should be wearing sunscreen.
It was my understanding that there really hasn't been a large study done on pilots and cancer rates, and any info out there is based on a very narrow cross section of pilots.
As for the validity of any studies...well I'll leave that up to the reader. I have cut and pasted some qoutes from the abstracts of some of these studies. I have also pasted a few links which will take you to other studies. lastly I am pasting a quote from the abstract of a recent Canadian study that I was not previously aware of. I'm sure it will stir the pot a little.
No consistent association between employment period or duration and cancer mortality was observed. A low cardiovascular mortality and an increased mortality caused by aviation accidents were noted. Our study shows that cockpit crew have a low overall mortality. The results are consistent with previous reports of an increased risk of malignant melanoma in airline pilots. Occupational risk factors apart from aircraft accidents seem to be of limited influence with regard to the mortality of cockpit crew in Europe.
Cosmic radiation is an occupational risk factor for commercial aircrews. In this large European cohort study (ESCAPE) its association with cancer mortality was investigated on the basis of individual effective dose estimates for 19,184 male pilots. Mean annual doses were in the range of 2-5 mSv and cumulative lifetime doses did not exceed 80 mSv. All-cause and all-cancer mortality was low for all exposure categories. A significant negative risk trend for all-cause mortality was seen with increasing dose. Neither external and internal comparisons nor nested case-control analyses showed any substantially increased risks for cancer mortality due to ionizing radiation. However, the number of deaths for specific types of cancer was low and the confidence intervals of the risk estimates were rather wide. Difficulties in interpreting mortality risk estimates for time-dependent exposures are discussed.
Incidence of cancer among commercial airline pilotshttp://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/143/2/137.pdf
Wiley InterScience :: Session Cookies
SpringerLink - Journal Article
Mortality and cancer incidence in airline pilots was studied by Canadian researchers. The study also investigated the leukemia risk associated with in-flight ionizing-radiation exposures. The incidence of prostate cancer and acute myeloid leukemia was significantly increased. Among potential leukemogens to which the pilots might be exposed are ionizing radiation, benzene and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Airline pilots are exposed to EMFs that range in frequency from 400 Hz to several thousand GHz. [BENER 13721]
Cheers,
AKG
09-11-2009 | 06:39 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 202
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From: in the groove
For what it's worth. Train engineers (my second choice), have a high rate of cancer. They claim it is from the electric field created by the electric generator that powers the train. A train engine works by using a diesel engine that turns an electric generator to create electrons to run the train. It works this way because a transmission for a diesel engine that size would be to heavy. I've been wondering if hybrid cars could end up having the same problem.
09-11-2009 | 06:43 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 193
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From: hmmmm.....
The question that I have is what is the amount of skin cancer cases for pilots? I would think that skin cancer would be an issue due to long periods of exposure to the sun at high altitudes. My father-in-law is a bus driver, and on the left side of his face he developed skin cancer from being exposed to the sun for long periods of time during his route.
09-11-2009 | 07:10 AM
#24
Line Holder
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 96
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From: B-744/748 FO
I'm fair skinned and have never got a sunburn while flying. I wonder what type of protection our windows offer/don't offer to our skin?? Are they UVA / UVB resistant, etc...??
09-11-2009 | 11:42 AM
#25
On Reserve
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 21
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From: MD-11 Captain
The question that I have is what is the amount of skin cancer cases for pilots? I would think that skin cancer would be an issue due to long periods of exposure to the sun at high altitudes. My father-in-law is a bus driver, and on the left side of his face he developed skin cancer from being exposed to the sun for long periods of time during his route.
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer.
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It begins in skin cells called melanocytes.
Melanocytes are the cells that make melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanin also protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
When people spend time in the sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan. This also happens when skin is exposed to other forms of ultraviolet light (such as in a tanning booth). If the skin receives too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous. This condition is called melanoma.
Melanoma rate among commercial airline pilots is about 3 times the rate of the general population. However, day vs. night, pax vs. freight does not change the rates. I believe that is why the current scientific thought leans toward circadian disruptions as the cause of this increased rate.
09-11-2009 | 12:28 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 490
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I ran that calculator for a hypothetical LAX-JFK transcon and came up with about 4.5 mrem (1mrem=10 usieverts). I did a stint in nuke power and TOTALED less than 200 mrem over FOUR YEARS. That's about 45 transcons. I'm at a regional, so I am just guessing, but a lineholder doing transcons would take only 6 months or so soak up the same zoomies that I did in 4 years of occupational exposure. Yikes. Hey B6, are you sure you still want those transcon turns? 
09-11-2009 | 02:44 PM
#27
Libertarian Resistance
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
From: 757 FO
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer.
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It begins in skin cells called melanocytes.
Melanocytes are the cells that make melanin, which gives skin its color. Melanin also protects the deeper layers of the skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
When people spend time in the sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan. This also happens when skin is exposed to other forms of ultraviolet light (such as in a tanning booth). If the skin receives too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous. This condition is called melanoma.
Melanoma rate among commercial airline pilots is about 3 times the rate of the general population. However, day vs. night, pax vs. freight does not change the rates. I believe that is why the current scientific thought leans toward circadian disruptions as the cause of this increased rate.
AGK,
Do you have info regarding the demographics of pilots? I know that, roughly, people whose ancestry is northern european are more susceptible to melanoma (fair skin and red hair are two risk factors) than are those from other places. If the pilot demographic skews toward this ethnic profile it could explain the melanoma prevalance.
just a thought.
WW
09-11-2009 | 05:35 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 112
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What radiation page on what website?
09-11-2009 | 05:42 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,395
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From: B-777 Captain
Here's a way to see what your radiation profile is for a specific flight.
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/f...n_profile.html
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/f...n_profile.html
09-11-2009 | 06:06 PM
#30
Line Holder
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
[quote=DustyRoads;676836]For what it's worth. Train engineers (my second choice), have a high rate of cancer. They claim it is from the electric field created by the electric generator that powers the train. A train engine works by using a diesel engine that turns an electric generator to create electrons to run the train. It works this way because a transmission for a diesel engine that size would be to heavy. I've been wondering if hybrid cars could end up having the same problem.[/quo
I would have thought it would more likely be the diesal fumes and all the heavy metals covering the train from the brake dust, road bed, etc.etc. you encounter.
I would have thought it would more likely be the diesal fumes and all the heavy metals covering the train from the brake dust, road bed, etc.etc. you encounter.
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