Pilots More Likely To Develop Skin Cancer Due To Higher Levels Of UV Radiation At High Altitude?

Question

I can't remember where I read it but it was the result of some test by pilots in Iceland. Do you believe this is true? The only way for sunlight to get into the cockpit is through the windshield and most aircraft have visors and most pilots wear sunglasses when it's sunny. So are they just at as much risk as people on the ground to developing skin cancer?

Answer 1

I doubt it.  If car windows are UV protective, why wouldn't airplane windows be?

By the way, the sun doesn't have to be in your eyes to get skin cancer.  It's SKIN cancer, not eye cancer.

Answer 2

Its not the UV radiation that is hazardous, as the glass windows in a jet effectively absorb most of the UV radiation.

The hazard is gamma radiation, which also comes form the sun and is usually absorbed by the lower levels of atmosphere. I once had a nuclear physicist on board a flight (pre 9/11!) with gamma radiation detectors and showed me that a pilot (and passengers) are exposed to more gamma radiation at 40,000 feet than a nuclear power plant worker!  It was interesting to see how the intensity varied with altitude.  He also explained it was a function of time as well as intensity to contribute to total exposure.

But after 39 years of flying commercial and military jets, I'm as healthy as ever, and I have never heard of any increased risk of cancer among my pilot colleagues.

Answer 3

No.The frequency response of glass does not generally extend up to the ultra violet frequency.

Answer 4

The concorde was the only plane i ever heard that being associated with and it included the passengers even thought the windows were not large, It was the altitude that had something to do with it, but the cockpit windows are like bullet proof almost and i belived they absorbed some of the uv, but tha pax never got much protection

Answer 5

I would imagine the canopy would provide compariable protection along with most high altitude flight suits are full cover suits, so I would say no.

Answer 6

Glass blocks UV rays that are hazardous to beans, human beans.

Answer 7

Last I heard, there's no significant evidence that long term flying causes cancer... except...

Apparently, long-term flying on polar routes (over the north or south pole), may cause cancer and/or sterility. I won't be flying those polar routes for sure until I'm close to retirement... :(