Cosmic radiation increases cataract risk in pilots

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Cumulative exposure to cosmic radiation increases the risk of a certain type of cataract among airline pilots.
Cosmic radiation can increase the risk of cancer although for most of us, it wouldn't be a big risk. However, commercial airline pilots are exposed to more of this radiation and it's been said they do carry a heightened risk of certain cancers. A team at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik, now reports on a link between cosmic radiation and cataract.

They studied a group of 445 men of whom 71 had nuclear cataract, a clouding of the eye lens often linked with aging. In the group there were 79 commercial pilots. Analysis of the data showed that the pilots had a three times higher risk of nuclear cataract. Futhermore, their risk increased with cumulative exposure to cosmic radiation. This is a new factor in our understanding of cataract and warrants some further investigation.

Source
Archives of Ophthalmology August 2005 Volume 123 pages 1102-1105

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