NEUTRON RADIATION DETECTED ON COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE FLIGHTS

[ApophisAstros]

Turns out that frequent flyer miles are not so good after all. Want to experience space weather? Just step on board an airplane. Flying above 30,000 feet can expose passengers to potentially significant doses of cosmic rays. We have just conducted a new survey of radiation on flights over 5 continents and, using bubble chambers, detected an abundance of deep space neutrons. Learn more about this biologically effective form of cosmic radiation on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.
Roger

[The Thing]

You should look up what happens to older aircrew staff.

[Hugh]

As the article states, aircrew and passengers have long been known to get higher doses of radiation but as a passenger, again as the article, it is spread over time rather than in one dose.  I seem to remember reading that aircrew, over their flight history, have about an increased 1-2% extra chance of cancer over a ground dweller as a result.

Trip to Mars might be interesting!

Best

Hugh

[Mac]

Its not as bad as it seems.

Look how much you get from just living in a house.

check out https://www.momtastic.com/webecoist/2013/01/22/hot-spots-earths-5-most-naturally-radioactive-places/

Guarapari, Brazil average dose is 175msV which is 17 red squares!

1 red = 20*25 green = 500 green
two airplane trips is 1 green

so you would need to take 250 flights to equal living in Guarapari for 1 year.



Mac.

[Hugh]

Hi Everyone

The text below is taken from the latest SPA news bulletin and adds a little to the conversation.

Best Hugh

NEUTRONS DETECTED ON COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE FLIGHTS
Spaceweather.com

Long queues. Narrow seats. Baggage fees. You recognize this list. It's the downside of flying on modern commercial airlines. And now we have a new item to add: neutrons. A 5-continent survey of cosmic-ray neutrons at aviation altitudes from Dec. 2018 until Feb. 2019 revealed that neutrons from deep space were detected on all commercial flights from North America to Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. Scientists travelled 41,500 miles above 30,000 feet. The entire time, they gathered data on X-rays, gamma-rays and neutrons in an energy range (10 keV to 20 MeV) similar to that of medical radiology devices and "killer electrons" from the Van Allen Radiation Belts. The results were eye-opening. During the trip, 230 uGy (microGrays) of cosmic radiation were gathered. That's about the same as 23 panoramic dental x-rays or two and a half chest X-rays. Moreover, 41% of the dose came in the form of neutrons. That confirms that cosmic-ray neutrons are abundant at aviation altitudes.

Researchers have long known that cosmic rays penetrate aeroplanes. A 3-year survey of global radiation shows that X-rays and gamma-rays at aviation altitudes are typically 50 times stronger than sea level. This new survey focuses on neutrons, a more potent type of radiation from deep space. Studies show that neutrons can be ten times more effective at causing biological damage compared to X-rays and gamma-rays in the same energy range. Neutrons are so effective, they are used for cancer therapy, killing tumours better than other forms of radiation. The survey also revealed some geographical variations. Generally speaking, neutron radiation was stronger near the Arctic Circle and weaker near the equator. It was weakest of all, however, in flights over Chile as the aircraft skirted the South Atlantic Anomaly.