A study conducted by the US Department of Defense reveals high rates of cancer among military pilots, and shows that the ground crews who fuel these planes are also getting sick.
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Aircrew members have an 87% higher rate of melanoma.
revealed A study conducted by the US Department of Defense The Pentagon has reported rising rates of cancer among military pilots, and has shown for the first time that ground crews who refuel and launch these planes are also getting sick.
This data has long been sought following by retired military pilots, who have raised alarms for years regarding the number of air and ground crew members developing cancer. Associated Press.
In its year-long study of nearly 900,000 service members who flew or worked on military aircraft between 1992 and 2017, the Pentagon found that aircrew members had an 87% higher rate of skin cancer than non-combatants, and a 39% higher rate. with thyroid cancer.
The study revealed an increase in the incidence of prostate cancer by 16% for men and breast cancer by 16% for women. Overall, aircrews had a 24% higher chance of developing cancer of all types.
The study showed that ground crews had a 19% higher rate of brain and nervous system cancers, a 15% higher rate of thyroid cancer, and a 9% higher rate of kidney cancer, while women had a 7% higher rate of breast cancer.
The study found some good news, too. Both ground and air crews had much lower rates of lung cancer, and aircrews had lower rates of bladder and colon cancer.