In recent years, the possible risks posed to pregnant women by aircraft radiation have been a hot topic of discussion among the public and the scientific community. It is widely believed that due to the higher altitude of aircraft, they will receive more cosmic radiation than the ground, thus posing a threat to the health of pregnant women and fetuses. However, what is the scientific basis for this claim? Let's do it.
Airplanes do come into exposure to higher levels of cosmic radiation when flying at high altitudes. Cosmic radiation is high-energy particle radiation from the sun and the depths of space. The level of radiation on the ground is relatively low because the atmosphere provides us with effective protection. When the aircraft flies at higher altitudes, this layer of protection weakens and the radiation level increases accordingly. However, it is important to understand that this increased radiation dose is actually very small.
According to the guidance of the International Radiation Protection Association (ICRP) and other scientific studies, for the vast majority of pregnant women, occasional flights do not expose them or their fetuses to dangerous levels of radiation. In fact, the radiation dose received while flying is well below the threshold for causing health effects. To put the risk in context, a transoceanic flight is exposed to approximately the same amount of radiation as two to three days of natural background radiation on the ground.
Still, experts recommend a cautious approach. Regular radiation dose monitoring should be carried out for frequent professionals such as pilots and flight attendants, especially pregnant flight attendants, and the recommendations of the relevant agencies should be followed to ensure that radiation exposure remains below safe levels. For pregnant women, it is advisable to consult a medical professional if you need to take a long-haul flight, and consider taking some simple precautions during the flight, such as staying well hydrated and moving your legs regularly to improve blood circulation.
All in all, while it is true that high-altitude flights expose passengers, including pregnant women, to higher levels of cosmic radiation, the health effects of occasional flights on pregnant women and their fetuses are negligible, according to available scientific research. After taking reasonable precautions and conducting a proper health assessment, it is perfectly safe for pregnant women to fly. This finding underscores the importance of relying on scientific guidance and professional advice in the face of public concerns. It is a rumor that airplane radiation is not good for pregnant women