In-Flight Radiation: Counseling Patients About Risk

Abstract

Background: At the high altitudes, which are the domain of commercial airliners, cosmic-ray exposure rates are hundreds of times greater than at ground level. If this radiation originated at a regulated industrial or medical facility, many frequent flyers would receive annual exposures in excess of the present legal limit applicable to members of the public. For pregnant travelers, the fetus is also at risk, with a sensitivity that varies during the course of pregnancy.

Methods: Health risks from in-flight radiation exposure are analyzed specifically to calculate the likelihood of cancer, birth defects, and genetic damage. A literature review was conducted from 1985 to 1998, using the key words “cosmic radiation,” “aviation medicine,” “radiation risk,” and “in-flight radiation.”

Results and Conclusions: The analysis shows that for the passenger who travels only occasionally, the risks are extremely small. For business frequent flyers the risks are still small, but not negligible.