DOD Study Reveals Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates in Military Aircrew and Ground Crew
A Department of Defense (DOD) study investigated cancer risks among military aircrew and ground crew members, comparing their incidence and mortality rates to the U.S. population. The study covered the period from 1992 to 2017 and included over 4 million cancer cases. Aircrew members showed higher incidence rates for melanoma, thyroid, and prostate cancers, while ground crew members exhibited higher rates for brain and nervous system, thyroid, and melanoma cancers. However, both aircrew and ground crew demonstrated lower or similar cancer mortality rates compared to the general population. The study emphasizes the need for further investigation into potential risk factors and acknowledges limitations related to data availability and quality.
Key Findings:
Aircrew members had a 89% higher rate of melanoma (skin cancer), 39% higher rate of thyroid cancer, 16% higher rate of prostate cancer, and 24% higher rate of cancer at all sites compared to the general U.S. population.
Ground crew members exhibited 19% higher rate for cancers of the brain and nervous system, 15% higher rate of thyroid cancer, and 9% higher rate of melanoma (skin cancer), 9% higher rate of kidney and renal pelvis cancer, and 3% higher rate of cancer at all sites compared to the general U.S. population.
Both aircrew and ground crew showed lower or similar cancer mortality rates compared to the general U.S. population - presumably due to consistent access to healthcare.
Study Strengths:
One of the largest and most comprehensive studies of military aircrew and ground crew cancer risks.
Sufficient representation of women in the study population for evaluating female-specific cancers.
Inclusion of members from different military conflicts over time.
Study Limitations:
Data limitations, gaps, and quality issues, especially regarding cancer case data before 1990.
Exposure misclassification due to the use of occupational codes without considering flight hours and aircraft type.
Uncontrolled confounding factors, including lifestyle factors and the "healthy soldier" effect.
Way Forward:
A Phase 1-b study is underway to augment cancer incidence analysis using additional data sources, including veteran and National Guard member data.
Phase 2 will focus on identifying specific carcinogenic factors associated with military flight operations and determining appropriate screening measures.
The study concludes that while certain cancers showed higher incidence among military aircrew and ground crew, these findings cannot be generalized to all service members, and further research is needed to explore potential risk factors.