Cosmic Radiation and Aviation: Can it Cause a New Occupational Disease in terms of Occupational Health and Safety?

Year 2024, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 67 - 83, 01.12.2024

Ozan Öztürk

Abstract

With the global aviation industry carrying more than 6 billion passengers in 2023, cosmic radiation levels in the sky have become an important issue, especially in air travel. Both passengers and flight crew are exposed to this radiation at high altitudes. Cosmic radiation is produced by the interaction of high-energy particles with the atmosphere and is deflected by the Earth's magnetic field. Cosmic radiation has been shown to come from galactic and solar sources and to behave as primary and secondary radiation in the atmosphere. This radiation increases especially near the poles and at high altitudes. There are many factors that affect the dose of this radiation during flight, including altitude, latitude, solar activity and flight duration. Health risks of cosmic radiation include cancer and cataract development. Radiation protection includes limiting flight times and avoiding high radiation areas. It is important to calculate the radiation doses received during flights and to keep these calculated doses within annual limits. This article aims to investigate the possibility of cosmic radiation to cause a new occupational disease in terms of occupational health and safety.

Keywords

Cosmic Radiation, Air Travel Safety, Radiation Protection, Occupational Diseases, OHS

Kozmik Radyasyon ve Havacılık: İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Açısından Yeni Bir Meslek Hastalığına Neden Olabilir Mi?

Abstract

Küresel havacılık sektöründe 2023'te 6 milyardan fazla yolcu taşınırken, gökyüzünde maruz kalınan kozmik radyasyon seviyeleri, özellikle uçak seyahatlerinde önemli bir konu haline gelmiştir. Hem yolcular hem de uçuş mürettebatı, yüksek irtifalarda bu radyasyona maruz kalmaktadır. Kozmik radyasyon, yüksek enerjili parçacıkların atmosferle etkileşimi sonucu oluşur ve Dünya'nın manyetik alanı tarafından sapma gösterir. Kozmik radyasyonun galaktik ve solar kaynaklardan geldiğini ve atmosferde birincil ve ikincil radyasyon olarak davranış sergilediğini göstermiştir. Bu radyasyon, özellikle kutuplara yaklaştıkça ve yüksek irtifalarda artar. Bu radyasyonun uçuş esnasında maruz kalınan dozunu etkileyen birçok faktör bulunmaktadır ve bu faktörler arasında yükseklik, enlem, güneş aktivitesi ve uçuş süresi yer almaktadır. Kozmik radyasyonun sağlık riskleri arasında kanser ve katarakt gelişimi bulunur. Radyasyondan korunma yolları arasında uçuş sürelerinin sınırlanması ve yüksek radyasyon bölgelerinden kaçınılması yer alır. Uçuşlarda alınan radyasyon dozlarını hesaplamak ve bu hesaplanan dozların yıllık limitler içinde kalması önemlidir. Bu makale, kozmik radyasyonun iş sağlığı ve güvenliği açısından yeni bir meslek hastalığı oluşturma olasılığını araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

Kozmik Radyasyon, Hava Yolculuğu Güvenliği, Radyasyondan Korunma, Meslek Hastalıkları, İSG

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