US military flight crews had higher rates of cancer

A Pentagon study has found that military pilots and ground crews have a higher rate of cancer incidence than the general population.

The aircrews experienced a higher rate of 24 percent for all cancer cases. Of specific cancers, they had an 87 percent higher rate of melanoma and a 39 percent higher rate of thyroid cancer. Men had a 16 percent higher rate of prostate cancer and women a 16 percent higher rate of breast cancer.

Ground crews fared better, with an overall cancer rate only 3 percent higher than the general population. The ground crews had a 19 percent higher rate of brain and nervous system cancers; a 15 percent higher rate of thyroid cancer; and a 9 percent higher rate of kidney or renal cancers. Women had a 7 percent higher rate of breast cancer.

The study data included 156,050 air crew and 737,891 ground crew who served between 1997 and 2017. Most of the study cohort is non-Hispanic white male, about 80 percent.

The Pentagon said that the study results might not actually reflect reality because they didn't include data from the Veterans Affairs Department, the National Guard and from the state registry. However, phase two of the study will include data from veterans, Reserve, and National Guard members.

That phase will try to identify the carcinogenic toxicants or hazardous materials associated with military flight operations. It also will identify specific duties, dates of service, and locations in relation to cancer.

The study has long been sought by military aviation crews because they were concerned about environmental factors such as jet fuel and solvents used to clean and maintain the jets, as well as the massive radar system on the ships that the jets land on, according to The Associated Press.

Betty Seaman told the AP that her husband, Navy Captain Jim Seaman, would come home from a deployment aboard an aircraft carrier, with his gear reeking of jet fuel. The pilot died in 2018 at age 61 of lung cancer.

Seaman said she still has his gear stored, and it still smells of fuel. She recalled that the crews would talk about how even the ship's water systems would smell of fuel. She and others wonder if there is a link.

The study found some positive results. The mortality rate for malignant cancer of all types was significantly lower in aircrews by 56 percent and in ground crews by 35 percent.

The study suggests that this is likely due to the factors that military members are healthier than the general population and have better access to medical care during and after their service. Moreover, aviation crews are required to maintain even a more stringent physical standard.

Another factor could be that service members have routine medical screenings and physical fitness tests while they are on active duty, leading to earlier detection of cancers and improving their prognosis.

Agencies contributed to this story.