A French court has ruled that cosmic radiation, along with passive smoking and prolonged night work, contributed to the breast cancer of a former Air France flight attendant, in a landmark decision that her lawyer and a trade union say is a first for the country's aviation industry.
The ruling, issued by a court in the southwestern town of Bayonne, recognized the occupational origin of Sophie Lainault's cancer. Lainault, 59, worked for Air France between 1989 and 2019, first as a stewardess and later as a purser on long-haul flights. She accumulated more than 12,600 flight hours, over half of them at night. Many of her long-distance, high-altitude flights from Paris took her near the North Pole, where exposure to radiation from space—particles from the sun and other stars—is most intense.
The court identified three carcinogenic hazards from her profession: cosmic radiation, passive smoking, and night work. Smoking was authorized on Air France flights until 2000. The decision allows Lainault, who is now in remission, to take early retirement, with any further treatment fully reimbursed by the French health system.
Legal significance and precedent
Lainault's lawyer, Elisabeth Leroux, said the court decision sets a legal precedent. The ruling was final, with no appeal lodged. Lawyers said the decision clears the way for many other similar claims. Lainault, from Anglet in southwest France, told the AFP news agency that she hoped her legal victory could help other women. "It is truly my dearest wish that this opens the way for other women who might not have dared until now," she said.
The recognition was not easily won. Two regional committees responsible for recognizing occupational diseases had previously concluded that no link had been established. Breast cancer is not included in France's official list of occupational diseases, making recognition a lengthy and difficult process. Lainault fought for two and a half years for the recognition, supported by activists from the CFDT union.
Air France's response
Air France said it was not a party to the proceedings and had not been informed of the court's reasoning. The airline said the health and safety of employees at work is an absolute priority.
Broader context
The ruling comes amid studies suggesting that women who regularly work night shifts may face a higher risk of developing cancer. In 2023, a French nurse who worked night shifts for 28 years and was exposed to radiation had her breast cancer recognized as an occupational disease. Breast cancer is the deadliest cancer among women in France, with nearly 13,000 deaths each year.