CHAPTER No. 12

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

JET FUEL AND HEALTH:

The extensive use of jet fuel for aviation and other commercial uses exposes large segments of the population to its toxic effects. Jet fuels are carcinogens. Fuels are rapidly absorbed when breathing the aerosols and/or vapours. Liquid fuel is absorbed directly into the body by contact with the skin and through cuts or when swallowed. The harmful heath effects include cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, psychological and other damage. There are no beneficial effects. Despite wide spread use, there has been little public health education directed toward the aviation and non aviation users of jet fuel. Even aviation professionals receive minimal or no training on the health hazards of jet fuel exposure. Education is needed to increase awareness of this health hazard and of safe handling practices for jet fuel. How jet fuel causes injury is poorly understood, and research projects are also needed in this area. Air care international is committed to public health education and research on the health and environmental effects of jet fuel.

JP-4 and JP-7 are liquid mixtures produced from petroleum and used as air craft fuels. Breathing large amounts of the vapours from these fuels may cause navsea and nervous system effects. JP-4 and JP-7 are liquids at room temperature, they also evaporate easily.

WHAT HAPPENS TO JP-4 AND JP-7 WHEN THEY ENTER THE ENVIRONMENT?

JP-4 and JP-7 enter the environment when they are spilled or leak into water or soil during their manufacture shortage, disposal, or release from jets during flight.

Some chemicals found in JP-4 may dissolve in water, while others may evaporate into the air.

Some chemicals found in JP-4 may stick to particles in water which will eventually cause them to settle to the bottom sediment.

Some of the chemicals found in JP-4 may be broken down slowly in air, water, and soil by sunlight or small organisms.

There is no information about what happens to JP-7 when it enters the environment but it probably acts similarly to JP-4.

There is no information on whether JP-4 and JP-7 build up significantly in plants and animals.

It is likely that some of the chemical components of JP-4 and JP-7 build up in plants and animals.

HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO JP-4 AND JP-7 ?

Exposure to JP-4 occurs primarily in workers who manufacture, transport, or use jet fuels.

Exposure to JP-4 is most likely to occur through skin contact or breathing contaminated air.

You may be exposed to JP-4 by breathing some of the chemicals that evaporate from a spill or leak site.

You may also be exposed through drinking or swimming in water that has been contaminated with JP-4, or from touching soil contaminated from a spill or leak.

There is no information about how individuals may be exposed to JP-7, but it is reasonable to assume that you could be exposed in the same ways as for JP-4.

HOW CAN JP-4 AND JP-7 AFFECT MY HEALTH?

Animal testing is sometimes necessary to find out how toxic substances might harm people or to treat those who have been exposed. Laws today protect the welfare of research animals and scientists must follow strict guidelines.

Little information is available about the health effects that may be caused by JP-4 and JP-7. Inhaling large amounts of JP-4 vapor may cause painful breathing and a feeling of suffocation, as well as headache, dizziness, nausea, depression, anxiety, memory loss, and irritability.

Animal studies have shown that inhaling extremely large amounts of JP-4 or JP-7 vapor does not cause death. However, animals breathing high levels of JP-4 vapor for short periods exhibited poor coordination and convulsions. A depressed activity level has been seen in animals breathing low levels of JP-4 vapor. Other effects seen in animals breathing JP-4 or JP-7 vapor have been skin and eye irritation, changes in liver cells and decreased numbers of white blood cells.

We do not know whether Jp-4 or JP-7 can cause birth defects or if they affect reproduction in people.

HOW LIKELY ARE JP – 4 AND JP – 7 TO CAUSE CANCER ?

The international Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has stated there is not enough information to determine how likely JP-4 and JP-7 are to cause cancer in humans. Studies with mice and rats have suggested that skin contact with JP-4 may cause skin cancer, although this is not certain. There is also no clear evidence that breathing, eating or drinking JP-4 or JP-7 causes cancer in animals.

IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO SHOW WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO JP – 4 AND JP – 7 ?

There is no medical test that shows if you have been exposed to JP – 4 and JP – 7 . Tests are available to determine if some of the chemicals commonly found in jet fuels are in your blood. However, the presence of these chemicals in blood may not necessarily mean that you have been exposed to JP – 4 and JP –7

AVIATION GASOLINE AND HEALTH:

As tetraethyl head (TEL) is used as anti knocking additives to increase the octane rating. This lead on burning in engine forms lead oxide, and on introducing to the environment, when it is in hailed it circulates into the blood and causes lung cancer. It also causes mental retardation in old people and small children.

Due to this sereve environmental effect now a days MTBE (methyl tertiary butyle ether) is commonly used instead of TEL to reduce environmental pollution problems, because environmental testing has proved MTBE to be "Safe" gasoline component. This is because MTBE has an oxygen containing molecular structore.

In 1974, Legislation was introduced in the United State that to make lead free gasoline.

In Japan the use of lead – free gasoline has been increasing the mid-1970s. Today Japan’s consumption of leaded gasoline is nearly phased out.

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