Cancer incidence in California flight attendants (United States).
OBJECTIVE
To examine unusual exposure opportunities to flight crews from chemicals, cosmic radiation, and electric and magnetic fields.


METHODS
This project evaluated the incidence of cancers of the breast and other sites among Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) members residing in California. AFA membership files were matched to California's statewide cancer registry to identify a total of 129 newly diagnosed invasive cancers among AFA members with California residential histories between 1988 and 1995.


RESULTS
Compared to the general population, female breast cancer incidence was over 30% higher than expected, and malignant melanoma incidence was roughly twice that expected. Both of these are cancers that are associated with higher socioeconomic status and have been suggestively associated with various sources of radiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with the results from Nordic studies of cabin crews and a recent meta-analysis of prior studies, these data suggest that follow-up investigations should focus on the potential relative contribution of workplace exposures and lifestyle characteristics to the higher rates of disease for these two cancers.
Reynolds
Peggy
P
California Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Oakland 94612, USA.
Cone
James
J
Layefsky
Michael
M
Goldberg
Debbie E
DE
Hurley
Susan
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects; D000401:Aircraft; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003359:Cosmic Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012923:Social Class; D017132:Workplace