Potentiation of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss by JP-8 Jet Fuel

摘要

Military personnel are exposed to JP-8 through the skin, and the DoD has identified that one of the main complaints of personnel exposed to jet fuel is 'skin problems' (www.JP- 8.org). The purposes of this project were to assess potential hearing loss associated with JP-8 jet fuel exposures and loud noise, and also to describe the pathology of jet fuel dermatitis. A rat model of dermal exposure was chosen but found to be unsuitable to assess hearing loss, yet well suited to study skin inflammation. A small amount of JP-8 jet fuel or acetone control was applied to the skin of rats once a day for up to seven days. Skin samples were collected at various times, and inflammation was readily apparent in skin from JP-8 treated rats. JP-8 induced a number of inflammatory substances known as cytokines. Expression patterns of these cyokines were analyzed and showed that interleukin 1 and other cytokines associated with short-lived dermatitis dominated those associated with allergic dermatitis. Additionally, one cytokine closely associated with skin healing, interleukin 6 (IL-6) appeared to be depleted in the skin of JP-8 treated rats. It is possible that the reduction of IL-6 may inhibit healing, and partially explain the severity of the JP-8 dermatitis.