We often talk about flights, but we have never wondered what causes a flight to the human body. The risks come from exposure to environment, from mechanical stress and from cosmic radiation

In the third part we will talk about the effects from the cosmic radiation

Cosmic radiation is called the particle rain coming from outside sources of the solar system,or the solar system itself. The particles are usually protons, but they can also be larger alpha particles (2 protons and 2 neutrons). The alpha particles have little penetration and have little effect on civil aviation. Protons, however, have a differed story .

As the proton enters the earths atmosphere, it loses some of its energy from interactions with the air molecules. Some of them under appropriate conditions, produce gamma radiation in the process.

Gamma radiation is more penetrating and even though it weakens when it reaches the ground, it causes problems in organisms that fly over 10000 meters. As radiation has significant kinetic energy, it deflects electrons from molecules of the body creating an atypical ionization effect.

The resulting new elements are called "free radicals"and because they have an energy instability, adhere to other molecules by stealing an electron from their outer layer (creating something like covalent bond) This phenomenon also changes the chemical composition of the molecules.

The effect is devastating for cells, by damaging cell membranes, or key cell organs and DNA elements. Depending on the degree of damage some cells die relatively soon, while others mutate.

Passengers who make a long-distance flight generally accept small amounts of radiation, so the problem is not very large. Unfortunately things are not the same for the crew that flies the aircraft, as the effects of radiation are adding. One study has shown that the flight attendants that were pregnant had significantly higher abortion rates in the first trimester, than in the general population. Unfortunately there is still no evidence of long-term cancer attacks in studies, but it is certainly a phenomenon that needs to be analysed more. Staff should be included in the high risk category and receive leaves such as those that have the radiologists.

In closing this mini-series of articles, and after seeing how much inhospitable space and flight can become, we must remember that technology has allowed us to have safe and very long journeys. It is worth spreading the pure idea of aviation, because through it we find solutions in impossible problems.

part1 : https://www.simpleplanes.com/Forums/View/999019/The-effects-of-aviation-travel-on-the-human-body-Part-One
part2 : https://www.simpleplanes.com/Forums/View/1000350/The-effects-of-aviation-travel-on-the-human-body-Part-two