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22 February 2012 09:11
Cancer Research UK said airline passengers do not face any additional risk from cosmic radiation
Travellers who fly regularly do not have an increased risk of developing cancer, leading experts have said.
Airline passengers are sometimes thought to be more exposed to cosmic radiation, which reaches the earth from space and can damage DNA.
The earth's atmosphere shields us from the majority of this radiation, but it becomes thinner high above the earth's surface, suggesting that passengers in an aeroplane could be more exposed than those on the ground.
But Cancer Research UK has confirmed that flying on a commercial airline is a safe way to travel, with no increased risk from radiation.
The charity said airline passengers are no more at risk from cancer than anyone else, as they only receive a very small amount of radiation.
Those who have been diagnosed with cancer may be concerned about the difficulties of finding travel insurance with medical conditions, but a range of specialist policies are available to provide suitable cover.
Theoretically, no level of radiation can be considered to be completely safe, according to Cancer Research UK.
However, the low levels of radiation experienced by airline passengers are very unlikely to seriously affect cancer risk even among frequent flyers, the group added.
While the risk from cosmic radiation may be low, specialist policies such as breast cancer travel insurance can help provide peace of mind for passengers who have previously been diagnosed with the illness.
23 September 2016
Theresa May is being urged to give the go-ahead for flights to resume between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh by the head of the cross-party parliamentary group on Egypt.
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22 September 2016
Budget airline Jet2.com is to open its first base in the south of England at Stansted.
21 September 2016
Smoking rates have dropped to the lowest level on record in England, new figures show, suggesting messages about the health effects of cigarettes are hitting home.
20 September 2016
Concerns have been raised over flight disruptions caused by heavy drinking among passengers.
17 September 2016
British Airways' decision to launch direct flights from London to Tehran earlier this month positions Iran as one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2017, according to experts.
16 September 2016
More than 100 flights have been cancelled as French air traffic controllers go on strike again.
15 September 2016
Two thirds of MPs would support an expansion at Heathrow.
14 September 2016
TripAdvisor is launching a new homepage, making the booking of holiday activities and tours even easier.
13 September 2016
Travellers are to be charged to use fast lanes to get through passport checks in an attempt to cut queues.
09 September 2016
People travelling to regions affected by the Zika virus outbreak should practise safe sex for at least half a year upon their return, health leaders say.
08 September 2016
British Airways is apologising to passengers for delays after an IT glitch hit check-in systems.
07 September 2016
Tiny particles that are breathed in and taken into the brain through air pollution could trigger Alzheimer's disease, research finds.