Listen to this article

A new review of past studies has found that cabin crews and pilots have more risk of developing the cancer melanoma as compared to the general population.Why this is a higher risk for the pilots and cabin crews? Obviously, there is greater due to an increased exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the higher altitudes, the researchers said at 9000 meters [about 30000 feet], where the most of the crafts fly, the UV level is approximately twice that of ground.

Furthermore, the clouds and thick snowfields can further increase the amount of UV radiation, and pilots and the crewmembersare exposed to this. The researchers have found 19 such studies, which were published between 1990 and 2013, and all of this included more than 266,000 participants. 

It has been estimated that there will more than 76,000 new cases in the United States in 2014 , and 9410 people will die from this disease. Sun exposure is the well-known major risk factor for melanoma, people with fair skin are likelier to develop the chances of Melanoma and this risk increases with the age. A federal Aviation administration has been adopting the measures to control this disease and adopting measures which could reduce this risk.