Pentagon's new study revealed that U.S. military pilots with cancer are increasing. Aside from this, the research also claims that cancer rates among ground crew members are also rising.
The U.S. defense agency studied almost 900,000 pilots and ground crews who worked on military aircraft between 1992 and 2017.
Based on their findings, the overall cancer rate among air and ground service members is 24% higher.
Pentagon Claims US Military Pilot Cancer Patients are Increasing
According to CTV News CA's latest report, air crew members had a 39% higher rate of thyroid cancer and an 87% higher rate of melanoma.
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Men aircrew members had a 16% higher rate of prostate cancer and women had a 16% higher rate of breast cancer.
Aside from pilots and other aircrew members, Pentagon also released the new cancer rates among ground crew members:
- 19% higher rate of brain and nervous system cancers.
- 7% higher rate of breast cancer in women.
- 15% higher rate of thyroid cancer.
- 9% higher rate of kidney or renal cancer.
This new health study of the Pentagon is a big deal since it is one of the largest and most comprehensive research conducted by the defense organization.
The next step for Pentagon is to conduct a bigger study to understand why the cancer rates of air and ground crew members are getting higher.
What Pentagon's Study Matters
Before Pentagon's health study was released, many personnel already speculated that being exposed to jet fuels and solvents could increase the risk of cancer among aviation service members.
If being a pilot or other aircrew and ground member is linked to having cancer, then there's a chance that applicants will be discouraged from applying to the U.S. military as aviation service members.
However, Pentagon clarified that aircrew and ground crew occupations are not the main cause of cancers.
The agency added that other factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and family histories, also play a major role in the increasing cancer rates.
In other news, the UN said that 2.5 tons of uranium went missing from an uncontrolled site in Libya. We also reported about the new suicide prevention techs that won VA's Mission Daybreak competition.
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