Congratulations on your pregnancy (or your intention to be
pregnant)!
AFA
offers a free Reproductive Health Information Packet that includes information
on the various hazards in your working environment that may impact your
fertility, the health of your baby, or both. We encourage you to review it and
take it to your doctor, since many doctors are unaware of this information. In
some cases, it may be possible or necessary to stop flying during your
pregnancy. In others, it may be not be possible to stop flying during your
pregnancy (or when trying to conceive), but you may be able to bid for flights
within fewer time zones at lower latitudes, and you can ensure that you do not
fly during solar storms. Finally, another option may be to drop trips during
your first trimester and for the latter part of your third trimester. These are
complex decisions with obvious financial implications, but we hope that the
information provided may help you and your doctor agree on the best course of
action that enables you to pay the bills and carry a healthy baby to term.
To request a copy of our complete reproductive health
information packet (updated Apr 2010), email or call 206-932-6237. Some of the references are also
provided on this webpage and there is additional information on our radiation webpage.
See also Benefits you may
be eligible for during pregnancy (and after baby is born) - Air Safety,
Health, & Security Department, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (Apr 2010)
Great news: “The Invisible Passenger” (revised
edition) has been released. It is a comprehensive,
readable, introduction to the hazards of in-flight radiation. Click here to purchase. AFA
members are offered a 20% discount on the $19.95 cover price. To receive the
discount go to the order form and look for the “Do you have any special instructions”
block. Enter the text “AMPAFA 20% discount.” The online invoice will show a
full price charge but your credit card will be charged the discount price when
the book ships.
Fortunately,
smoking is no longer permitted on aircraft, but this research
found that children exposed to the combination of tobacco smoke early in life
(including in utero) and even low levels of lead had
a much greater risk of developing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) than children exposed to either one or none of those toxins. Sources of
lead include old paint, old water pipes, and air pollution. The question of
whether this increased risk of ADHD holds true for smoking and toxins other
than lead (and there are many in the aircraft cabin) needs to be investigated.
Also, it’s an important information about the risk of
smoking during pregnancy and around small children. Thank you to Arlene Blum, PhD for
bringing this information to our attention.
List of occupational hazards and sample of supporting
information (again, for complete information packet, contact us):
Galactic and solar
radiation: In-flight, you are exposed
to elevated levels of solar and galactic radiation relative to ground-based
workers. Exposure is a function of altitude, latitude, duration, and solar
activity, with the highest exposures being on high altitude, high latitude,
long haul flights, especially if a “solar particle event” (or “solar storm”) is underway. The FAA
has acknowledged that a female crewmember can exceed the recommended monthly
radiation dose during pregnancy if flying high altitude, high latitude flights,
even with no solar particle events, and that the mother’s belly offers no
shielding to the baby (FAA, 2000). Conversely, flying a reduced number of
domestic flights with no solar particle events is unlikely to exceed
recommended radiation exposure limits. Generally, exposure to elevated levels of
radiation during pregnancy (or prior to conception for both the father and
mother) is considered to increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and
childhood cancer (Barish, 2004). Most of the
radiation you are exposed to in-flight is galactic (i.e., comes from other
stars) but some comes from our sun (solar). The contribution from our sun is
considered to be of health significance during a “solar particle event” rated
S2 or higher which occur infrequently but are important to know about. Read the
attached AFA bulletin to learn how to prevent exposure during solar storms.
·
Are you flying
through a solar particle event? (and why to avoid doing so, especially when
pregnant Air
Safety, Health, & Security Department, Association of Flight
Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (April 2010)
·
Cosmic and solar
radiation: facts for flight attendants Air Safety, Health, & Security Department, Association
of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (Last updated Apr 2010)
·
Transport Canada
updates its recommended radiation protections Issued as Commercial & Business Aviation
Advisory Circular No. 0183R, Apr 28, 2006. see Section 11 for pregnancy protections (first published in 2001)
·
Galactic
cosmic radiation exposure of pregnant aircrew members II US Department of Transportation, Office of
Aviation Medicine, DOT/FAA/AM-00/33 (2000)
Elevated physical
activity, physical fatigue, long work hours: These factors have been associated with reduced
fertility, low birth weight babies, and increased risk of miscarriage.
·
Federal
Aviation Regulation 121.467 describes maximum scheduled duty and minimum scheduled rest
requirements, including the fact that an airline can schedule a flight attendant to work a
14 hours of continuous duty, with permission to extend the flight duty day without rest beyond 14 hours
if there are delays outside the control of the carrier, such as weather and air
traffic control. Duty and rest requirements may vary between airlines.
·
Examples
of flight attendant job descriptions
at a major carrier and regional carrier. Duties include pushing a service
cart that can weigh more than 250 pounds up an incline, bending, pushing,
pulling, squatting, being on your feet for hours at a time, and assisting
passengers in stowing and retrieving carry on bags.
Night shift/jet lag: These factors have been associated with reduced
fertility and increased risk of miscarriage.
Miscellaneous: Additional research papers have reported an
increased risk of miscarriage and menstrual disorders among active flight
attendants (suggesting a work-related connection), but the specific causes were
not tested.
Print
dutyreg.pdf