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Cosmic radiation and cancer mortality among airline pilots: results from a European cohort study (ESCAPE)

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Abstract

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.

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Abbreviations

CI:

confidence interval

CLL:

chronic lymphatic leukemia

RRC:

radiation-related cancers

NRRC:

non-radiation-related cancers

RR:

relative risk

SMR:

standardized mortality ratio

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Bielefeld, P.O. Box 100 131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany

    I. Langner, M. Blettner & H. Zeeb

  2. Clinic of Aviation Medicine, Department 7522, University Hospital, Tagensjey 20, 2220 , Copenhagen N, Denmark

    M. Gundestrup

  3. Danish Cancer Society, Centre for Cancer Documentation, Department of Prevention and Documentation, Strandboulevarden, 2100, Copenhagen OE, Denmark

    H. Storm

  4. Finnish Airline Pilots’ Association, 01530 , Vantaa, Finland

    R. Aspholm

  5. Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, 33014, Tampere, Finland

    A. Auvinen

  6. STUK Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Helsinki, Finland

    A. Auvinen

  7. Finnish Cancer Registry, Liisankatu 21B, 00170 , Helsinki, Finland

    E. Pukkala

  8. Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 , Heidelberg, Germany

    G. P. Hammer

  9. Landspitalinn, University Hospital, 105, Reykjavik, Iceland

    J. Hrafnkelsson

  10. University of Iceland, Department of Preventive Medicine, Soltun 1, 105 , Reykjavik, Iceland

    V. Rafnsson

  11. Icelandic Cancer Registry (ICE), P.O. Box 5420, 125 , Reykjavik, Iceland

    H. Tulinius

  12. Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Laboratory of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    G. De Angelis & A. Verdecchia

  13. The Cancer Registry of Norway, Montebello, 0310, Oslo, Norway

    T. Haldorsen

  14. Institute for Energy Technology, P.O. Box 40, 2007, Kjeller, Norway

    U. Tveten

  15. 33 Valevägen, 18264 , Djursholm, Sweden

    H. Eliasch†

  16. Department of Epidemiology, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 , Stockholm, Sweden

    N. Hammar & A. Linnersjö

  17. Institute of Medical Biometry Epidemiology and Informatics, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55101 , Mainz, Germany

    M. Blettner

Authors
  1. I. Langner
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  2. M. Blettner
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  3. M. Gundestrup
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  4. H. Storm
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  5. R. Aspholm
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  6. A. Auvinen
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  7. E. Pukkala
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  8. G. P. Hammer
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  9. H. Zeeb
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  10. J. Hrafnkelsson
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  11. V. Rafnsson
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  12. H. Tulinius
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  13. G. De Angelis
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  14. A. Verdecchia
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  15. T. Haldorsen
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  16. U. Tveten
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  17. H. Eliasch†
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  18. N. Hammar
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  19. A. Linnersjö
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Correspondence to I. Langner.

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Langner, I., Blettner, M., Gundestrup, M. et al. Cosmic radiation and cancer mortality among airline pilots: results from a European cohort study (ESCAPE). Radiat Environ Biophys 42, 247–256 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-003-0214-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-003-0214-7

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