Editing Flight attendant (section)

== Health conditions ==
A 2018 study found higher instances of [[melanoma]], breast, [[Uterine cancer|uterine]], gastrointestinal, cervical, and thyroid [[cancer]]s reported in flight attendants in contrast to the general population.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=McNeely|first1=Eileen|last2=Mordukhovich|first2=Irina|last3=Tideman|first3=Samuel|last4=Gale|first4=Sara|last5=Coull|first5=Brent|date=23 March 2018|title=Estimating the health consequences of flight attendant work: comparing flight attendant health to the general population in a cross-sectional study|journal=BMC Public Health |volume=18|issue=1|pages=346|doi=10.1186/s12889-018-5221-3|issn=1471-2458|pmc=5865289|pmid=29566648 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Specifically, the increased cancer cases reported were seen in [[breast cancer]] (3.4% of flight crew compared to 2.3% in the general population - a 50% increase), [[cervical cancer]] (1.0% compared to 0.70%), [[gastrointestinal cancer]] (0.47% compared to 0.27% – a 74% increase), [[thyroid cancer]] (0.67% compared to 0.56%) and higher rates of both melanoma and non-melanoma [[skin cancer]]s with reports of the latter increasing with every five years spent in the job.<ref name=":1" /> The study did not look into what causes this increase, but the authors said increased exposure to [[ionizing radiation]] from time spent in the thinner [[Mesosphere|upper atmosphere]], poor cabin air quality as well as [[Sleep deprivation|disrupted sleep]] and meal cycles could be factors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/cabin-crew-cancer-risk-flight-attendant-radiation-exposure-sleep-cycle-obesity-smoking-a8416166.html|title=Flight attendants have a higher risk of all types of cancers, finds study|date=26 June 2018|website=The Independent|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222084917/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/cabin-crew-cancer-risk-flight-attendant-radiation-exposure-sleep-cycle-obesity-smoking-a8416166.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other studies have found increased rates of breast and skin cancer,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tokumaru|first1=Osamu|last2=Haruki|first2=Kosuke|last3=Bacal|first3=Kira|last4=Katagiri|first4=Tomomi|last5=Yamamoto|first5=Taisuke|last6=Sakurai|first6=Yutaka|date=May 2006|title=Incidence of cancer among female flight attendants: a meta-analysis|journal=Journal of Travel Medicine|volume=13|issue=3|pages=127–132|doi=10.1111/j.1708-8305.2006.00029.x|issn=1195-1982|pmid=16706942|doi-access=free}}</ref> reduced respiratory health,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ebbert|first1=Jon O|last2=Croghan|first2=Ivana T|last3=Schroeder|first3=Darrell R|last4=Murawski|first4=Judith|last5=Hurt|first5=Richard D|date=26 September 2007|title=Association between respiratory tract diseases and secondhand smoke exposure among never smoking flight attendants: a cross-sectional survey|journal=Environmental Health|volume=6|issue=1 |pages=28|doi=10.1186/1476-069X-6-28|issn=1476-069X|pmc=2064907|pmid=17897468 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2007EnvHe...6...28E}}</ref> adverse reproductive and perinatal outcomes,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Grajewski|first1=Barbara|last2=Whelan|first2=Elizabeth A.|last3=Lawson|first3=Christina C.|last4=Hein|first4=Misty J.|last5=Waters|first5=Martha A.|last6=Anderson|first6=Jeri L.|last7=MacDonald|first7=Leslie A.|last8=Mertens|first8=Christopher J.|last9=Tseng|first9=Chih-Yu|date=March 2015|title=Miscarriage Among Flight Attendants|journal=Epidemiology|volume=26|issue=2|pages=192–203|doi=10.1097/EDE.0000000000000225|issn=1044-3983|pmc=4510952|pmid=25563432}}</ref> [[Musculoskeletal injury|musculoskeletal injuries]],<ref name="Griffiths 514–521">{{Cite journal|last1=Griffiths|first1=Robin F.|last2=Powell|first2=David M. C.|date=May 2012|title=The occupational health and safety of flight attendants|journal=Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine|volume=83|issue=5|pages=514–521|issn=0095-6562|pmid=22606869|doi=10.3357/ASEM.3186.2012}}</ref> and higher rates of mental health conditions in flight attendants.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Feijo|first1=Denise|last2=Luiz|first2=Ronir R.|last3=Camara|first3=Volney M.|date=April 2014|title=Common mental disorders among civil aviation flight attendants|journal=Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine|volume=85|issue=4|pages=433–439|issn=0095-6562|pmid=24754205|doi=10.3357/ASEM.3768.2014}}</ref>

=== Radiation ===
Flight attendants and crew members are known to be exposed to [[Ionizing radiation|cosmic ionizing radiation]] which is a form of radiation that comes from space and intensifies as altitude above sea level increases. The [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]] of the [[World Health Organization]] lists ionizing radiation as a known [[IARC group 1|human carcinogen]].<ref name="Griffiths 514–521"/> Passengers are also exposed to this type of cosmic radiation, but they spend considerably less time on average in the air than crew members. An online travel agency report found, in particular, that travelling adults in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] spend on average 306 hours on flights to holiday destinations during their lifetime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airport-world.com/news/general-news/5181-brits-will-spend-12-days.html|title=Brits will spend 12 days onboard flights in a lifetime|last=Bates|first=Joe|website=Airport World|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=15 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115051623/http://www.airport-world.com/news/general-news/5181-brits-will-spend-12-days.html}}</ref> In contrast, according to the [[Federal Aviation Administration|US Federal Aviation Administration]], a flight attendant can spend up to 30 hours of flight time in seven consecutive days and in some cases more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2000s/media/200721.pdf#page=23|title=Flight Attendant Fatigue|last=Mary|first=M. Connors|website=U.S. Federal Aviation Administration|page=13|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222083409/https://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2000s/media/200721.pdf#page=23|url-status=live}}</ref> The effect of cosmic radiation on air crew members is a subject of a growing body of research.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lim|first1=M|last2=Bagshaw|first2=M.|date=July 2002|title=Cosmic rays: are air crew at risk?|journal=Occupational and Environmental Medicine|volume=59|issue=7|pages=428–433|doi=10.1136/oem.59.7.428|issn=1351-0711|pmc=1740325|pmid=12107289}}</ref><ref name="cdc.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aircrew/cosmicionizingradiation.html|title=CDC - Aircrew Safety and Health - Cosmic Ionizing Radiation - NIOSH Workplace Safety & Health Topics|date=8 November 2018|website=www.cdc.gov|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=18 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818035627/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aircrew/cosmicionizingradiation.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cabin crew members are also regularly exposed to more [[Ultraviolet|UV radiation]] than the general population, which can make these workers more vulnerable to [[skin cancer]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nierenberg |first=Cari |date=26 June 2018 |title=Why Cancer Rates Are Higher in Flight Attendants |url=https://www.livescience.com/62913-cancer-risk-flight-attendants.html |website=Live Science |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527234336/https://www.livescience.com/62913-cancer-risk-flight-attendants.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The U.S. [[National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements|National Council on Radiation Protection]] (NCRP) reports that aircrew have the largest average annual effective dose of all U.S. radiation workers.<ref name="cdc.gov"/>

=== Cabin air quality ===
Poor cabin air quality is a subject of ongoing study in relation to symptoms such as [[headache]], [[fatigue]], [[fever]], and [[Respiratory system|respiratory]] difficulties among many others that have been reported by flight attendants, particularly on long-haul routes.&nbsp;There is also much concern regarding the transmission of [[Infection|contagious diseases]], particularly [[tuberculosis]]. An open question remains whether&nbsp;these complaints are due to poor cabin air quality or to other factors inherent in flights, such as lowered [[Atmospheric pressure|barometric pressure]], [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]], low [[humidity]], etc.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rayman|first=Russell B.|date=March 2002|title=Cabin air quality: an overview|journal=Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine|volume=73|issue=3|pages=211–215|issn=0095-6562|pmid=11908887}}</ref> Other chemical contaminants found in the cabin may include engine leakages, [[pesticide]]s and [[flame retardant]]s, which contain compounds that may act as [[Endocrine disruptor|hormone disruptors]] and increase the risk of some [[cancer]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pinkerton|first1=Lynne E.|last2=Hein|first2=Misty J.|last3=Grajewski|first3=Barbara|last4=Kamel|first4=Freya|date=July 2016|title=Mortality From Neurodegenerative Diseases in a Cohort of US Flight Attendants|journal=American Journal of Industrial Medicine|volume=59|issue=7|pages=532–537|doi=10.1002/ajim.22608|issn=0271-3586|pmc=4915549|pmid=27184412}}</ref>

=== Sleep disruption ===
Flight attendants often have [[Circadian rhythm sleep disorder|disrupted sleep cycles]]. They are more likely to have disruptions in their sleep patterns because they may work at night, cross time zones, and have irregular schedules. There is some evidence linking sleep disruptions to increased cancer risk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/lack-sleep-increases-your-risk-some-cancers|title=Lack of Sleep Increases Your Risk of Some Cancers – National Sleep Foundation|website=www.sleepfoundation.org|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204205842/https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/lack-sleep-increases-your-risk-some-cancers|url-status=live}}</ref> Flight attendants may also have different lifestyle behaviours related to diet, physical activity, and health care than the general population which could affect overall health and cancer risk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/study-examines-cancer-rates-among-flight-attendants.html|title=Study Examines Cancer Rates Among Flight Attendants|website=www.cancer.org|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=16 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416101343/https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/study-examines-cancer-rates-among-flight-attendants.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Secondhand tobacco smoke ===
Many of the flight attendants working today were exposed to second-hand [[Inflight smoking|in-flight smoke]] until 1998 with partial smoking bans enacted in 1988. The long-term effects of this historical [[Passive smoking|secondhand smoke]] exposure have not been well characterized.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Repace|first=J|date=March 2004|title=Flying the smoky skies: secondhand smoke exposure of flight attendants|journal=Tobacco Control|volume=13|issue=Suppl 1|pages=i8–i19|doi=10.1136/tc.2003.003111|issn=0964-4563|pmc=1766146|pmid=14985612}}</ref>