Side effects of cosmic radiation on aeronautic personnel: Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4321/s0465-546x2023000300004Keywords:
cosmic radiation; cosmic ray; side effects; aeronautic personnelAbstract
Introduction: Aircrew and astronauts are subject to cosmic radiation as part of their jobs and could be associated with various pathological effects. Until now, available evidence is oriented to the study of specific pathologies without consideration of all possible adverse effects.
Method: A systematic review (SR) from literature found until 2023 January. The databases included were PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS and Cochrane. The following descriptors used “Adverse effects” “Cosmic Radiation” and “Aeronautic”. Included studies had information on adverse effects of cosmic radiation in exposed workers. We assessed the quality of the evidence.
Results: 27 studies were included (11 SR and 16 observational). Some articles determined that aeronautic personnel have a higher cancer risk (breast, brain, leukemia and melanoma) and nuclear cataracts. However, other studies did not describe neoplastic diseases or other studied pathologies (genetics, gynecological, cardiovascular) due to ionizing radiation. The quality of the SR (AMSTAR-2) was critically low in the vast majority and the average quality for observational studies (STROBE) around 72%.
Conclusions: Available evidence does not allow us to find direct causality between exposure to cosmic radiation and the appearance of pathologies in exposed personnel. New well-designed studies considered necessary.
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