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Fuel Exposure

Gain insights on exposure to Military Aviation Turbine Fuels (MATFs), health concerns, studies conducted, and the path ahead. Learn about exposure, health impacts, studies, and how to address potential issues.

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Fuel Exposure

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  1. Fuel Exposure FSGT L Beattie ACG A/WHSA 16 Jul 15

  2. Why are we here • Better understanding of Military Aviation Fuels and Kerosene based fuels • Who is exposed and what is an exposure • Health concerns • What studies have been done – understanding them • What is the way forward ??? • Information sources

  3. What is MATF? • Military Aviation Turbine Fuels (MATFs) are hydrocarbon distillate fuels • Used in jet and turboprop engines • MATFs include F-34 (JP-8), F-35 (Jet A1), F-37 (JP-8+100) and F-44 (JP-5). • kerosene-type fuels – which contain specified amounts of additives such (eg FSII and many more)

  4. Who is exposed • All technical maintenance workers • during refuels, fuel sampling, component replacement or repair, tank entries, GSE refuelling etc.

  5. What is an exposure • Absorption - skin contact • Inhaled - vapour • Ingested • An exposure standard represents the airborne concentration of a particular substance in the worker’s breathing zone, exposure to which, according to current knowledge, should not cause adverse health effects or cause undue discomfort in most workers. • The Threshold Limit Value (TLV) is the average airborne concentration of a particular substance, calculated over an eight-hour working day, for a five-day working week, to which most people can be exposed without experiencing adverse effects • IAW American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienist the TLV is 200mg/m3

  6. Health Concerns • Short term • Irritation to the skin and eyes • Irritation of the respiratory tract due to inhalation of vapour • Headaches, nausea and dizziness, and • If swallowed may result in aspiration (entry of material into the lung), coma, convulsions and/or death. (number of recent incidents)

  7. Health Concerns cont… • Long Term • Dermatitis due to de-fatting and drying of the skin • Reported liver function and renal abnormalities associated with degenerative changes • Possible emotional and neurological dysfunction, and • Historically, benzene has been associated with both leukaemia and anaemia (noting, the low level of benzene in MATFs. Most modern kerosene-based MATFs contain only very small amounts of benzene, below 0.02%)

  8. What Studies have been done • Jet Fuel Exposure Syndrome (JFES) Study - Apr 15 • Report Molecular Investigations into Jet Fuel and Solvent Exposure in the DeSeal/ReSeal Program - 2014 • BOI F-111 - 2011 • MATF Occupational Hygiene Exposure Assessment Study – 2008 • Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP) - 2004

  9. JFES Study • Study focused on changes in cell biology in former F-111 deseal/reseal workers only • Investigated toxicity of JP-8 fuel and solvents through inhalation of vapour and absorption through skin • Developed method of studying exposure in blood plasma • Discovered that the compounds bonded to blood lipids – meaning it easily travels around the body, areas with a higher blood flow possibly have higher exposure

  10. JFES Study cont…

  11. JFES Study cont…

  12. Pregnancy and MATF • Little known on the effects of chemical exposure and unborn children • Policy is to protect women and unborn babies • Health Directive No 235 - annex A, details workplace restrictions • Defence WHS Technical Fact Sheet #28 • Study of chemical exposure on female reproductive system • Not enough women in Defence to conduct a study

  13. Way Forward ??? • Don’t really have one… • Defence Exposure Evaluation Scheme (DEES) register 1800DEFENCE • Assess and enforce current exposure controls • ACG in the process of standardising PPE across FEG – should go wider • Monitor own health • Currently no Defence health monitoring process • DDAAFS Fact Sheet 02/2015 • Possible further studies

  14. What Should You do • Register with DEES • Report a WHS Event on Sentinel • Contact Medical and arrange an exposure evaluation • Lodge a claim with DVA if you feel your health has been affected by MATF

  15. Where to find info….

  16. Where to find info cont… • Air Force Fuel Exposure - Fact Sheet 02/2015 • Defence WHS Technical Fact Sheet #28 • DVA - F111 • Health Directive No 235 - annex A • Safety Bulletin No 1-2006 • Defence WHS - Toxicology of MATF • Report on the Molecular Investigations into the Jet Fuel and Solvent Exposure in the DeSeal/ReSeal Program

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