Assessing Radiation Exposure, Health Outcomes, and Mitigation Strategies for Flight Crewmembers

Flight crewmembers are occupationally exposed to cosmic ionizing radiation. Although the radiation dose received during any individual commercial flight is generally low, dose accumulates over the course of a career and varies based on flight altitude, latitude, duration, and solar activity. Ionizing radiation is a known cause of certain cancers and other adverse health outcomes, yet important questions remain regarding the long-term health implications of cumulative radiation exposure.

Assessing Radiation Exposure, Health Outcomes, and Mitigation Strategies for Flight Crewmembers examines scientific evidence related to occupational radiation exposure among flight crews, evaluates radiation dose estimation models, assesses the feasibility of future epidemiologic studies, and identifies opportunities to strengthen monitoring, communication, and mitigation strategies. A key message from this report is that radiation exposure in aviation warrants attention as an occupational hazard. Estimated annual occupational doses for flight crew generally fall well below recommended limits; however, exposures over a career and cumulative dose received warrant monitoring and tracking. Additionally, the tools for monitoring exposure and educating workers are already available but are not uniformly utilized or deployed.

The report presents a coordinated path forward for improving occupational radiation safety in commercial aviation. Recommendations include implementing structured radiation safety programs, developing a centralized dose-tracking system for flight crew, improving communication and considerations for pregnant workers, strengthening radiation dose estimation models, and supporting long-term research infrastructure. These actions would help airlines, regulators, and flight crewmembers better understand and manage cumulative radiation dose received over a flight crewmember's career.