Miscarriage Among Flight Attendants

Grajewski, Barbara; Whelan, Elizabeth A.; Lawson, Christina C.; Hein, Misty J.; Waters, Martha A.; Anderson, Jeri L.; MacDonald, Leslie A.; Mertens, Christopher J.; Tseng, Chih‐Yu; Cassinelli, Rick T.; Luo, Lian

doi:10.1097/ede.0000000000000225

Cited by 70 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Of note, frequency of intercourse was not measured [44]. A study of more than 2000 female flight attendants revealed a significantly increased risk of first trimester miscarriage when work times coincided with the sleep period based on time zone of origin [45].…”

Section: -163)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Fertility

Goldstein

Smith

2016

Curr Sleep Medicine Rep

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Adequate sleep is crucial for general health and wellbeing. Although the neuronal control of the reproductive axis and sleep-generating neurons share an anatomical location, little is known regarding the impact of sleep and circadian disruption on fertility in women. Animal models have established clear circadian control of the pre-ovulatory luteinizing hormone surge. Additionally, disruption of the circadian timing system by exposure to abnormal light-dark cycles or mutations of core clock genes results in diminished reproductive capacity in animals. Abnormalities in menstruation, fertility, and early pregnancy maintenance in female shift workers provide evidence for a role of circadian rhythms in the reproductive health of women. Reproductive hormones may modify sleep, and the relationship is bidirectional such that sleep disruption may alter the profile of reproductive hormone secretion. Therefore, sleep, apart from its circadian timing, may also have relevance in attaining pregnancy. Additionally, infertility is associated with psychological distress which may result in poor quality sleep. The interaction between psychological distress and disturbed sleep in reproduction has garnered minimal attention and may be a crucial factor to consider during the evaluation and treatment of infertility. This work reviews animal models and evidence in women that suggest a role for sleep and circadian rhythms in reproductive health and reveals areas that require future investigation.

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Section: -163)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Fertility

Goldstein

Smith

2016

Curr Sleep Medicine Rep

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“…Adverse reproductive outcomes have been suggested in some studies of female flight attendants [ Aspholm et al , ; Lauria et al , ; Waters et al , ]. Also, a 70% increase in the risk of miscarriage among flight attendants, who received a dose of 0.1 mGy (1 Gy = J/kg) or more in the first trimester, was shown in a recent epidemiological study [ Grajewski et al , ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Cosmic radiation dose measurements from the RaD-X flight campaign

et al. 2016

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The NASA Radiation Dosimetry Experiment (RaD‐X) stratospheric balloon flight mission obtained measurements for improving the understanding of cosmic radiation transport in the atmosphere and human exposure to this ionizing radiation field in the aircraft environment. The value of dosimetric measurements from the balloon platform is that they can be used to characterize cosmic ray primaries, the ultimate source of aviation radiation exposure. In addition, radiation detectors were flown to assess their potential application to long‐term, continuous monitoring of the aircraft radiation environment. The RaD‐X balloon was successfully launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico (34.5°N, 104.2°W) on 25 September 2015. Over 18 h of flight data were obtained from each of the four different science instruments at altitudes above 20 km. The RaD‐X balloon flight was supplemented by contemporaneous aircraft measurements. Flight‐averaged dosimetric quantities are reported at seven altitudes to provide benchmark measurements for improving aviation radiation models. The altitude range of the flight data extends from commercial aircraft altitudes to above the Pfotzer maximum where the dosimetric quantities are influenced by cosmic ray primaries. The RaD‐X balloon flight observed an absence of the Pfotzer maximum in the measurements of dose equivalent rate.

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“…We used data from a retrospective cohort study of reproductive health among female flight attendants, the original aim of which was to estimate cosmic ionizing radiation and circadian disruption exposures among flight attendants and their potential association with adverse reproductive health outcomes such as miscarriage and menstrual function (12). Female flight attendants aged 18–45 years were selected from employee lists from three US commercial airline hubs in Detroit, Miami, and Seattle.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational risk factors for endometriosis in a cohort of flight attendants

Johnson¹,

Grajewski²,

Lawson³

et al. 2015

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Objectives This study aimed to (i) compare odds of endometriosis in a cohort of flight attendants against a comparison group of teachers and (ii) investigate occupational risk factors for endometriosis among flight attendants. Methods We included 1945 flight attendants and 236 teachers aged 18–45 years. Laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis was self-reported via telephone interview, and flight records were retrieved from airlines to obtain work schedules and assess exposures for flight attendants. We used proportional odds regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for associations between exposures and endometriosis, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Flight attendants and teachers were equally likely to report endometriosis (ORadj 1.0, 95% CI 0.5–2.2). Among flight attendants, there were no clear trends between estimated cosmic radiation, circadian disruption, or ergonomic exposures and endometriosis. Greater number of flight segments (non-stop flights between two cities) per year was associated with endometriosis (ORadj 2.2, 1.1–4.2 for highest versus lowest quartile, P trend= 0.02) but block hours (taxi plus flight time) per year was not (ORadj 1.2, 95% CI 0.6–2.2 for highest versus lowest quartile, P trend=0.38). Conclusion Flight attendants were no more likely than teachers to report endometriosis. Odds of endometriosis increased with number of flight segments flown per year. This suggests that some aspect of work scheduling is associated with increased risk of endometriosis, or endometriosis symptoms might affect how flight attendants schedule their flights.

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Miscarriage Among Flight Attendants

Cited by 70 publications

References 26 publications

Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Fertility

Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Fertility

Cosmic radiation dose measurements from the RaD-X flight campaign

Occupational risk factors for endometriosis in a cohort of flight attendants

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