Occupational Exposure to Gaseous and Aerosolized Volatile Organic Compounds in Flight Line Crews Using Different Types of Jet Fuel

We conducted a study to characterize the occupational chemical exposure to JP-8 ［a kerosene-based jet fuel used widely for both military and commercial aircraft） and JP-4 （a naphtha – and kerosene-based jet fuel that is used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force （JASDF）］. The study population included 90 volunteer subjects from JASDF and United States Air Force bases in Japan. The individual exposure to 48 volatile organic compounds （VOCs） was measured in C-130 （a cargo aircraft） flight line crews and non-exposed control subjects （workers in the Yokota and Kadena hospitals）. The individual air samples were collected during a typical work shift using a compact battery-operated personal air sampler with activated charcoal for gaseous VOCs and with a cascade impactor for aerosolized VOCs （diameter:＜6.6µm）. Each collected sample was analyzed by gas chromatography. Subjects in the JP-4 group were mainly exposed to gaseous aromatics and shorter straight-chain alkanes including carcinogenic benzene and neurotoxic hexane, while the subjects in the JP-8 group were exposed to aerosolized alkanes with a longer straight chain such as tridecane. In conclusion, this study revealed the characteristics of chemical exposure according to the fuel type in the flight line environment. The results suggest the health risks associated with each fuel type and the protective measures that should be employed. Aerosolized tridecane or aerosol containing tridecane might be causing the complaints from workers using kerosene-based fuel. None of the subjects were exposed to VOCs at levels exceeding recommended exposure limits