Airline Pilots, Crews Exposed to Increasing Levels of Radiation
- French nuclear safety institute calls for closer monitoring
- Longer flights have raised safety concerns for staff
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Airlines are exposing their personnel to increasing amounts of radiation as planes fly longer distances, with pilots receiving the highest annual doses, France’s nuclear safety institute warned in a new report.
The five-year study by the Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire found that while the number of crew receiving annual exposure above a specific safety limit remains relatively tiny, the proportion doubled between 2016 and 2019. The government agency recommended rotating staff more frequently away from the most-affected routes.