Why airline pilots have a higher risk of skin cancer

Airline pilots are at risk of deadly skin cancer because they are exposed to cockpit radiation similar to levels from tanning beds.

Pilots flying for an hour at 30,000ft get the same amount of radiation as 20 minutes on a tanning bed.

And researchers believe the levels could be higher when pilots are flying over thick clouds and snow fields, which can reflect UV radiation.

The dangerous exposure occurs because airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation as they are made of polycarbonate plastic or multilayer composite glass.

UV-A radiation can cause DNA damage in cells and its role in melanoma - a lethal type of skin cancer - is well known, according to the report published online by JAMA Dermatology.

Air crews also face an increased risk of exposure to cosmic rays - X-rays, gamma rays and subatomic particles - from space. 

Researchers from the University of California measured the amount of UV radiation in airplane cockpits during flights.

The cockpit radiation was measured in the pilot seat of a general aviation turboprop airplane through the acrylic plastic windshield at ground level and at various heights above sea level.

Sun exposures were measured in San Jose, California, and in Las Vegas around midday in April.

They then compared them with measurements taken in tanning beds.

While short-wave UV-B ultraviolet radiation cannot easily penetrate glass and plastic windows, long-wave UV-A is much more likely to get through.

Both kinds of UV can cause skin ageing and cancer.

The researchers conclude: 'Airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation and therefore are not enough to protect pilots. 

The authors said they 'strongly recommend' that pilots and cabin crews use sunscreens and periodically get their skin checked. 

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