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Flight Attendants (flight + attendant)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	91%

Selected Abstracts

Incidence of Cancer Among Female Flight Attendants: A Meta-Analysis

JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2006
Osamu Tokumaru MD
Background Airline flight personnel work in a unique environment with exposure to known or suspected carcinogens and mutagens including ionizing cosmic radiation. A meta-analysis was conducted to study whether the occupational exposure of female flight attendants (FA) increased their relative risk of cancer incidence. Methods A bibliographical computer search from 1966 to 2005 of cancer incidence cohort studies of female FA was performed. Combined relative risks (RRc) in cancer incidence were calculated by means of meta-analysis. Results RRc and 95% confidence interval (CI) for malignant melanoma and breast cancer in female FA were 2.13 (95% CI: 1.58,2.88) and 1.41 (1.22,1.62) (p < 0.0001). Excess risk was not significant for all-site cancer with RRc of 1.10 (0.99,1.21). Conclusions The meta-analysis confirmed the significantly increased risks for malignant melanoma and breast cancer in female FA. Increased exposure to cosmic radiation during flight has been suggested as a potential occupational risk factor. Ultraviolet radiation exposure on board seems an unlikely occupational risk, but nonoccupational leisure time sun exposure is a possible risk factor. The etiology of the observed increase in incidence of some cancers remains controversial because assessment of possible confounders, especially nonoccupational exposure factors, has thus far been limited. [source]

Development of historical exposure estimates of cosmic radiation and circadian rhythm disruption for cohort studies of Pan Am flight attendants,,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 10 2009
Martha A. Waters PhD
Abstract Background The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is conducting cohort studies of flight crew employed by the former Pan American World Airways company (Pan Am) as part of an effort to examine flight crew workplace exposures and health effects. Flight crew are exposed to elevated levels of cosmic radiation and to disruption of circadian rhythm when flying across multiple time zones. Methods exist to calculate cosmic radiation effective doses on individual flights; however, only work histories which provided an employee's domicile (home base) history rather than a record of every flight flown were available. Methods/Results We developed a method for estimating individual cumulative domicile-based cosmic radiation effective doses and two metrics for circadian rhythm disruption for each flight attendant: cumulative times zones crossed and cumulative travel time during the standard sleep interval. Conclusions The domicile-exposure matrix developed was used to calculate exposure estimates for a cohort mortality study of former Pan Am flight attendants. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:751,761, 2009. Published 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Uncivil aviation: a review of the air rage phenomenon

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 6 2001
Michelle Morgan
Abstract This article examines the issue of air rage. Attempting to define and identify the extent of this phenomenon provides the context in which to review contributory factors. The analysis of violence or aggression directed at flight attendants is developed with recourse to the work of Poyner and Warne, who offer a framework for understanding violence to staff. Use of this framework suggests that air rage remains a multifaceted phenomenon, with a number of contributory factors. Identification of a variety of factors is then used to develop an analysis of possible solutions to the air rage phenomenon. These solutions are concerned with controlling the assailant and, more proactively, supporting flight attendants through initiatives such as enhanced training programmes. Finally, the article suggests a number of areas for future research that may add to an understanding of a so-far under investigated phenomenon. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Risk of Norovirus Transmission during Air Travel

JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2009
Krista Kornylo MPH
Background. During October 2006, an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis sickened 200 (59%) of the 379 passengers and 26 (18%) of the 144 crew members on a riverboat. In November 2006, CDC was notified that a group of ill passengers had boarded a commercial flight from St Louis, Missouri, to Atlanta, Georgia. A recent study demonstrated probable norovirus transmission from eight symptomatic flight attendants to passengers on board an aircraft during an international flight; however, there are no published reports of transmission of norovirus on flights of short duration. Methods. We investigated the risk of norovirus transmission on a short flight as part of an outbreak response. Using a standardized questionnaire, we conducted interviews of passengers and flight attendants who were on the flight. We collected information on traveler demographics and illness before, during, and after the flight. We also collected information about potential onboard risk factors for norovirus transmission, such as proximity and contact with ill appearing persons during the flight, as well as use of onboard lavatories and hand hygiene. Results. We were able to complete questionnaires for 50 (56%) of the 89 passengers on the flight and 2 (67%) of the 3 flight attendants. Two (5%) of 42 possible secondary cases were identified. These two passengers neither sat in proximity to an index-case passenger during the flight nor reported use of an onboard lavatory. Conclusions. Although onboard transmission cannot be excluded, likelihood of norovirus transmission on a short flight when ill travelers do not have episodes of vomiting or diarrhea appears minimal. [source]

Incidence of Cancer Among Female Flight Attendants: A Meta-Analysis

Psychosocial work environment and medical symptoms among Swedish commercial airline cabin crew

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 7 2010
Kurt Wahlstedt MD
Abstract Background Associations between stress measured by the demands-control model, iso-strain model, and stress-related symptoms among cabin crew were studied. Methods A questionnaire about psychosocial work environment and symptoms was answered by 918 (82%) flight attendants, stewards, and pursers at one airline company in 2005. Adjustment was made for age, gender, smoking, job category, and flight length using multiple logistic regression. Results Weekly headaches, concentration difficulties, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms were reported at rates of 18%, 10%, 56%, and 13%, respectively. Pursers scored higher on control than the others and they had lower associations between the strain measured by the demands-control model and symptoms than stewards and flight attendants. All symptoms were more common in the high strain situation than in the low strain (reference). An active situation was related to an excess of symptoms. Low social support in the iso-strain model increased risk of symptoms. Conclusions Demands-control and iso-strain models are useful in studying stress-related symptoms in cabin crews. The dimension of social support adds explanatory value. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:716,723, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Development of historical exposure estimates of cosmic radiation and circadian rhythm disruption for cohort studies of Pan Am flight attendants,,

Pesticide illness among flight attendants due to aircraft disinsection,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2007
Patrice M. Sutton MPH
Abstract Background Aircraft "disinsection" is the application of pesticides inside an aircraft to kill insects that may be on board. Over a 1-year period, California's tracking system received 17 reports of illness involving flight attendants exposed to pesticides following disinsection. Methods Interviews, work process observations, and a records review were conducted. Illness reports were evaluated according to the case definition established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Results Twelve cases met the definition for work-related pesticide illness. Eleven cases were attributed to the "Residual" method of disinsection, i.e., application of a solution of permethrin (2.2% w/w), solvents (0.8%), and a surfactant (1.4%); the method of disinsection could not be determined for one case. Conclusions The aerosol application of a pesticide in the confined space of an aircraft cabin poses a hazard to flight attendants. Nontoxic alternative methods, such as air curtains, should be used to minimize disease vector importation via aircraft cabins. Employers should mitigate flight attendant pesticide exposure in the interim. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:345,356, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]