Neoplasms in workers exposed to cosmic radiation: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4321/s0465-546x2022000100005Keywords:
neoplasms; occupational exposure; cosmic radiationAbstract
Introduction: Cosmic radiation, as a type of ionizing radiation, is associated with the induction of cancer in exposed people. Since the level of exposure is related to altitude, workers exposed to higher cosmic radiation (airline pilots, cabin crew, astronauts) could be exposed to a higher risk of neoplasms.
Objective: To identify the risk of neoplasms in workers exposed to cosmic radiation.
Method: Systematic review of scientific literature retrieved from different databases until November 2021. The terms used as descriptors were: “Neoplasms”, “Occupational Exposure” and “Cosmic Radiation”. The search was completed with other free-text terms and no filters (limits) were used. Original articles of observational studies and systematic reviews were included, whose quality was evaluated through the STROBE and AMSTAR-2 guidelines, respectively.
Results: 597 references were retrieved. From these, 10 articles could be obtained in full text after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Some of them describe an increased risk of cancer in workers exposed to cosmic radiation, especially skin cancer and breast cancer, while others did not show a significant relationship between exposure to cosmic radiation and the development of neoplasms.
Conclusions: There is not enough evidence to demonstrate the risk of neoplasms among pilots, flight attendants and astronauts, due to being exposed to cosmic radiation.
Downloads
References
Radiaciones ionizantes: efectos en la salud y medidas de protección [Internet]. Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). 2016 [citado 19 de diciembre de 2021]. Disponible en: https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ionizing-radiation-health-effects-and-protective-measures
Di Trolio R, Di Lorenzo G, Fumo B, Ascierto PA. Cosmic radiation and cancer: Is there a link? Future Oncol. 2015;11(7):1123-35.
García Gómez M, Bezares González M, García Escandón F, Fernández González MA, Castell Salvá R, Valls Fontanals A. Protocolos de vigilancia sanitaria específica: Radiaciones ionizantes [Internet]. [citado 19 de diciembre de 2021]. Disponible en: https://www.mscbs.gob.es/ciudadanos/saludAmbLaboral/docs/radiacio.pdf
Real Decreto 783/2001, de 6 de julio, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento sobre protección sanitaria contra radiaciones ionizantes. [Internet]. BOE, no 178 jul 26, 2001. Disponible en: https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2001/07/26/pdfs/A27284-27393.pdf
Sigurdson AJ, Ron E. Cosmic radiation exposure and cancer risk among flight crew. Cancer Invest. 2004;22(5):743-61.
Boice Jr. JD, Lubin JH. Occupational and environmental radiation and cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 1997;8(3):309-22.
Blettner M, Grosche B, Zeeb H. Occupational cancer risk in pilots and flight attendants: Current epidemiological knowledge. Radiat Environ Biophys. julio de 1998;37(2):75-80.
Boice Jr. JD, Blettner M, Auvinen A. Epidemiologic studies of pilots and aircrew. Health Phys. 2000;79(5):576-84.
Wilkison BD, Wong EB. Skin cancer in military pilots: a special population with special risk factors. Cutis. 2017;100(4):218-20.
von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP. Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. BMJ. 20 de octubre de 2007;335(7624):806-8.
Ciapponi A. AMSTAR-2: herramienta de evaluación crítica de revisiones sistemáticas de estudios de intervenciones de salud. Evid Actual En Práctica Ambulatoria [Internet]. 1 de abril de 2018 [citado 4 de marzo de 2022];21(1). Disponible en: http://www.evidencia.org.ar/index.php/Evidencia/article/view/6834
Miura K, Olsen CM, Rea S, Marsden J, Green AC. Do airline pilots and cabin crew have raised risks of melanoma and other skin cancers? Systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Dermatol. julio de 2019;181(1):55-64.
Co M, Kwong A. Breast Cancer Rate and Mortality in Female Flight Attendants: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis. Clin Breast Cancer. octubre de 2020;20(5):371-6.
Hammer GP, Blettner M, Zeeb H. Epidemiological studies of cancer in aircrew. Radiat Prot Dosim. julio de 2009;136(4):232-9.
Dreger S, Wollschläger D, Schafft T, Hammer GP, Blettner M, Zeeb H. Cohort study of occupational cosmic radiation dose and cancer mortality in German aircrew, 1960-2014. Occup Environ Med. 2020;77(5):285-91.
Lee W, Kang M, Yoon J. Cancer Incidence Among Air Transportation Industry Workers Using the National Cohort Study of Korea. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 14 de agosto de 2019;16(16).
Olsen C, Miura K, Dusingize J, Hosegood I, Brown R, Drane M, et al. Melanoma incidence in Australian commercial pilots, 2011-2016. Occup Environ Med. julio de 2019;76(7):462-6.
Pinkerton LE, Hein MJ, Anderson JL, Christianson A, Little MP, Sigurdson AJ, et al. Melanoma, thyroid cancer, and gynecologic cancers in a cohort of female flight attendants. Am J Ind Med. 2018;61(7):572-81.
Pinkerton LE, Hein MJ, Anderson JL, Little MP, Sigurdson AJ, Schubauer-Berigan MK. Breast cancer incidence among female flight attendants: exposure-response analyses. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1 de junio de 2016;42(6):538-46.
Kojo K, Helminen M, Pukkala E, Auvinen A. Risk factors for skin cancer among finnish airline cabin crew. Ann Occup Hyg. 2013;57(6):695-704.