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The Flight Crew Research Program at NIOSH |
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Over 172,000 U.S. flight personnel work in commercial aircraft cabins with potential exposure to cosmic ionizing radiation, alterations of circadian rhythm from travel across time zones, cabin pollutants such as tobacco smoke and ozone, physical demands such as prolonged standing, and psychological demands such as job stress. Few studies have characterized air cabin exposures and health outcomes among U.S. flight crew. In partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Cancer Institute, the HHS Office of Women’s Health and the Department of Defense Women’s Health Research Program, NIOSH has established a program of research in this unique occupational group. Studies are underway to characterize exposures in the aircraft cabin environment and to examine a variety of health effects in flight attendants and pilots. Health effects under investigation include menstrual function, pregnancy outcome, infertility, cancer, respiratory symptoms, job stress, physical demands and overall mortality. These studies will help scientists to determine if flight crews’ working environments put them at risk of adverse health effects, and if so, what measures would be needed to reduce that risk. Current Reports:
Note: Links to papers published in journals connect to abstracts and bibliographic information in NIOSHTIC-2, the NIOSH publications database. NIOSHTIC-2 entries include links to source journals.
Related ResourcesNIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations:NIOSH conducts Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs) to find out whether there
are health hazards to employees caused by exposures or conditions in the
workplace. HHE
Report No. HETA-90-226-2281, Alaska Airlines, Seattle, Washington Other Web Sites:What
Commercial Aircraft Crewmembers Should Know About Their Occupational Exposure
to Ionizing Radiation FAA's
Radiobiology Research Team page
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