Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
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.
14 August 2018
Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month faced queues of over two and a half hours at passport control, new figures have revealed.
[more...]
11 August 2018
Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned on Friday due to pilot strikes in five countries.
10 August 2018
Fad diets that cut out carbs while increasing fat consumption could lead to an increased risk of diabetes, according to new research.
09 August 2018
HIV testing has become even more accessible after a self-testing kit was made available from a High Street retailer.
08 August 2018
Women patients are more likely to survive a heart attack if they are treated by a female doctor, a new US study has revealed.
07 August 2018
The head of British Airways has branded two-hour queues facing travellers at Heathrow's passport control as a "border farce."
04 August 2018
Simple factors such as gender and body mass can help doctors to personalise care for patients with type 2 diabetes and avoid harmful side effects, according to a study.
03 August 2018
Gatwick Express must no longer claim it runs "non-stop to Victoria station in half an hour" and "in just 30 minutes" unless it can achieve the time in most cases, a watchdog has ruled.
02 August 2018
A charity is calling for greater access to respite support after it emerged that 72% of Britain's 700,000 young carers feel lonely and isolated during the summer holidays.
01 August 2018
A plan to build new rail links with Heathrow Airport and connect Windsor's two train stations have been submitted to the Government.
31 July 2018
The head of International Airlines Group (IAG), the company that owns British Airways, is 'optimistic' about a legal challenge to end crippling strikes.
27 July 2018
UK holidaymakers heading on staycations this summer could be losing out on millions of pounds worth of savings by booking train tickets at the last minute, a study has revealed.