Acute Dermal Irritation Study of Six Jet Fuels in New Zealand White Rabbits: Comparison of Four Bio-Based Jet Fuels with Two Petroleum JP-8 Fuels

摘要

The objective of this study was to determine the irritative potential of two petroleum derived operational jet fuels and four alternative fuels following a single exposure to the skin of New Zealand White rabbits. Operational fuels included two JP-8 formulations: JP-8 containing 21.25 mass percent aromatic components as a baseline control for the study and a second high aromatic (HA) JP-8 containing 28.05 mass percent aromatics for comparison with higher aromatic alternative fuels. The alternative fuels assessed were KiOR hydroprocessed depolymerized cellulosic jet (HDCJ) fuel; ReadiJet fuel produced by Applied Research Associates; Amyris C15 Direct Sugar to Hydrocarbon (DSHC); and Virent Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene (SAK). There were no significant differences in irritation noted between the baseline fuels (JP-8 and HA JP-8) and the four alternate jet fuels; all were slightly irritating when exposed under occluded and semi-occluded conditions, with the exception of 'ReadiJet' which was nonirritating when exposed semi-occluded. It is not expected that normal handling of these fuels would result in increased dermal irritation among airmen.