4 ms·
Could it because pilots spend more time in the upper atmosphere than the general population, so they aren't as protected from cancer causing radiation as people
by irrational 4y ago
Could it because pilots spend more time in the upper atmosphere than the general population, so they aren't as protected from cancer causing radiation as people at sea level? As for ground crews, they probably spend more time in the sun - again, potential cancer causing radiation. I wonder how the ground crews would compare to outdoor construction workers.
- atdt 4y agoThis is phase 1 of a multi-phase study. Analyzing the role played by ionizing radiation exposure due to high-altitude flight is planned as part of phase 2.
- wkat4242 4y agoI doubt it. Commercial pilots and air crew spend a lot more time in the upper atmosphere.
- irrational 4y agoWhat are their rates of cancer compared to the general population? Does the metal fuselage of a jetliner protect better than the canopy of fighter?
- wkat4242 4y agoCommercial pilots spend much more time in the air, that would offset any additional protection. Which is minimal anyway. A thin layer of aluminium compared to plexiglass or glass. For Alpha particles either would give perfect protection, beta would be about the same. Neither hardly make it through our magnetic field anyway. For gamma rays I wonder if Aluminium wouldn't trigger more bremsstrahlung, I remember reading somewhere that that is more prevalent in metal, but I'm not sure now. I'm not sure what their cancer rates are though. The reason for the higher time in the air is that fighters really need a ton of maintenance. Every flight hour means 10-15 hours of maintenance. For commercial jets it's like the opposite.