Toxicity and occupational exposure assessment for Fischer-Tropsch synthetic paraffinic kerosene

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2018;81(16):774-791. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2018.1490675. Epub 2018 Jul 9.

Abstract

Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) jet fuel is a synthetic organic mixture intended to augment petroleum-derived JP-8 jet fuel use by the U.S. armed forces. The FT SPK testing program goal was to develop a comparative toxicity database with petroleum-derived jet fuels that may be used to calculate an occupational exposure limit (OEL). Toxicity investigations included the dermal irritation test (FT vs. JP-8 vs. 50:50 blend), 2 in vitro genotoxicity tests, acute inhalation study, short-term (2-week) inhalation range finder study with measurement of bone marrow micronuclei, 90-day inhalation toxicity, and sensory irritation assay. Dermal irritation was slight to moderate. All genotoxicity studies were negative. An acute inhalation study with F344 rats exposed at 2000 mg/m3 for 4 hr resulted in no abnormal clinical observations. Based on a 2-week range-finder, F344 rats were exposed for 6 hr per day, 5 days per week, for 90 days to an aerosol-vapor mixture of FT SPK jet fuel (0, 200, 700 or 2000 mg/m3). Effects on the nasal cavities were minimal (700 mg/m3) to mild (2000 mg/m3); only high exposure produced multifocal inflammatory cell infiltration in rat lungs (both genders). The RD50 (50% respiratory rate depression) value for the sensory irritation assay, calculated to be 10,939 mg/m3, indicated the FT SPK fuel is less irritating than JP-8. Based upon the proposed use as a 50:50 blend with JP-8, a FT SPK jet fuel OEL is recommended at 200 mg/m3 vapor and 5 mg/m3 aerosol, in concurrence with the current JP-8 OEL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Aerosols / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hydrocarbons / toxicity
  • Kerosene / toxicity*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Micronucleus Tests
  • Mutagenicity Tests
  • Occupational Exposure / analysis*
  • Paraffin / toxicity*
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Hydrocarbons
  • JP8 aviation fuel
  • Kerosene
  • Paraffin
  • JP5 jet fuel