The radiation environment in the stratosphere is a result of the interaction of charged particles of solar and galactic origin with the magnetosphere and the atmosphere of the Earth. The intensities and the composition of the radiation field change with latitude and altitude and with solar activity. At cruising altitudes between 11 and 13 km aircraft crews are exposed to doses up to 10 µSv.h-1 by galactic cosmic rays and their secondary products. This exposure came into the focus of interest, when the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) recommended a decrease in the annual limit from 50 mSv to 20 mSv for occupational exposures due to greatly increased excess cancer risk coefficients for low level exposures. ICRP recommends including the operation of jet aircraft as occupational exposure. Applying 600 flight hours, crews become one of the most highly exposed occupational groups. This paper presents a review of available data and indicates areas where additional research is highly recommended.
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G. Reitz (1993) studied this question.