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

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

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)

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

What is an exposure Absorption - s 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

Health Concerns Short term 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)

Health Concerns cont… Long Term 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%)

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

JFES Study Study focused on changes in cell biology in former F- 111 deseal/reseal workers only 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 Investigated toxicity of JP-8 fuel and solvents through inhalation of vapour and absorption through skin Developed method of studying exposure in blood plasma 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 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

JFES Study cont…

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

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

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

Where to find info….

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

Questions???