A court in Bayonne, France, recognized the breast cancer of flight attendant Sophie Layno as an occupational disease. This decision is the first of its kind in French aviation, reported British BBC citing Layno’s lawyer.
59-year-old Sophie Layno, who currently shows no signs of the disease, worked as a flight attendant at Air France for three decades. From 1989 to 2019, she worked first as a flight attendant and later as a senior flight attendant on long-haul flights. During this time, she accumulated over 12,600 hours of flight time, more than half of which were at night. According to media reports, her medical records contain no personal risk factors for developing the disease. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
Causes of the disease and scientific research
The court linked the disease to several occupational factors: night work, passive smoking, and ionizing radiation of cosmic and solar origin. On board Air France aircraft on certain routes, smoking was allowed until November 2000. Radiation exposure caused by particles from space and the sun is stronger at high altitudes than on the ground, as the atmosphere partially protects against it. This is particularly noticeable on routes towards the polar regions, where the Earth’s magnetic field provides weaker protection against such radiation than, for example, over the equator.
Meanwhile, the Harvard Medical School published a study in the professional journal “JAMA Internal Medicine”, which indicates an increased risk of death from types of cancer associated with radiation exposure among flight personnel. The researchers analyzed over 12 million American death certificates, covering representatives of over 500 occupational groups. Among flight attendants, radiation-related cancers accounted for 6.9% of deaths, and among pilots, 6.7%. These figures were higher than among workers who directly handle radioactive materials. However, the study does not prove a causal link in individual cases but indicates a systemic risk for these professions.
Consequences of the decision and Air France’s reaction
Layno stated that she hopes this decision will encourage other women to also file claims for recognition of the disease as occupational. For her, the decision means early retirement and coverage of future treatment by the health insurance fund. Layno’s lawyer, Elisabeth Leroux, called the decision a precedent that could pave the way for new lawsuits from flight personnel.
Air France stated that they did not participate in the case review and are not yet familiar with the reasoning behind the decision. The airline added that the health of its employees is the highest priority and that each employee receives medical care that exceeds the legally established minimum requirements.
Source: Der Spiegel
