We found the following symptom prevalence (per 100) increased after the introduction of new uniforms: multiple chemical sensitivity (10 vs 5), itchy/irritated skin (25 vs 13), rash/hives (23 vs 13), itchy eyes (24 vs 14), blurred vision (14 vs 6), sinus congestion (28 vs 24), ear pain (15 vs 12), sore throat (9 vs 5), cough (17 vs 7), hoarseness/loss of voice (12 vs 3), and shortness of breath (8 vs 3). The odds of several symptoms significantly increased compared to baseline after adjusting for potential confounders.
US Flight Crew Have Higher Cancer Rates Compared to the General Population
/in Current Research, frontblog /by anthonywbrownAmerican flight attendants have a higher prevalence of several forms of cancer, including breast, uterine, gastrointestinal, thyroid, and cervical cancers, when compared with the general public, according to new research from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Documenting health risks at 35,000 feet
/in frontblog /by anthonywbrownAre flight attendants getting the health and safety protection they deserve?
/in frontblog /by Karoline BarwinskiAre flight attendants getting the health and safety protection they deserve? All workers are entitled to a safe workplace under federal law and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards and regulations to ensure safe and healthful working conditions. Historically, flight attendants had been excluded from OSHA’s protection and while certain protections have […]
Estimating the health consequences of flight attendant work: comparing flight attendant health to the general population in a cross-sectional study
/in Current Research /by anthonywbrownLink to the publication Background Flight attendants are an understudied occupational group, despite undergoing a wide and unique range of adverse job-related exposures. In our study, we aimed to characterize the health profile of cabin crew relative to the U.S. general population. Methods In 2014–2015, we surveyed participants of the Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study. […]
Download the Flight Health app today!
/in Current Studies /by Karoline Barwinskio we built the Flight Health app to understand how flight impacts heart rate and rhythm, cognitive functioning, breathing, oxygen saturation at altitude, and health symptoms.
Why participate in the Flight Attendant Health Study?
/in frontblog /by anthonywbrownSymptoms related to new flight attendant uniforms
/in Airplanes and Health, Current Research /by anthonywbrownWe found the following symptom prevalence (per 100) increased after the introduction of new uniforms: multiple chemical sensitivity (10 vs 5), itchy/irritated skin (25 vs 13), rash/hives (23 vs 13), itchy eyes (24 vs 14), blurred vision (14 vs 6), sinus congestion (28 vs 24), ear pain (15 vs 12), sore throat (9 vs 5), cough (17 vs 7), hoarseness/loss of voice (12 vs 3), and shortness of breath (8 vs 3). The odds of several symptoms significantly increased compared to baseline after adjusting for potential confounders.
Symptoms related to new flight attendant uniforms
/in Airplanes and Health, Current Research, Working Conditions /by anthonywbrownEileen McNeely, Steven J. Staffa, Irina Mordukhovich and Brent Coull 1/03/2018 Background: Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines reported health symptoms after the introduction of new uniforms in 2011. The airline replaced the uniforms in 2014 without acknowledging harm. To understand possible uniform-related health effects, we analyzed self-reported health symptoms in crew who participated in the […]
Flight Attendant Health Is Important To Us
/in frontblog /by anthonywbrownWe understand relatively little about flight attendant health compared to other professions. Yet—flight attendants experience significant exposures on the job: long work hours, frequent time zone changes, air pressure changes, awkward positions and lifting in tight spaces, turbulence, disrupted sleep rhythms, cosmic radiation, exposure to infectious disease, and psychological demands due to customer demands and need to […]
Tools for Empowerment
/in Featured, frontblog, SpecialArticle /by anthonywbrownWe offer these videos in the hope they may be useful to those recovering from stressful or traumatic situations including recent hurricanes. For an immediate way of letting go of stress and regaining strength and confidence, “Centering Down”. For a brief introduction to the theory of stress and trauma, watch Handling Stress and Trauma: We wish […]