Acute Dermal Irritation Study of Ten Jet Fuels in New Zealand White Rabbits: Comparison of Synthetic and Bio-Based Jet Fuels with Petroleum JP-8

摘要

The dermal irritation potential of ten jet fuels of interest to the U.S. Air Force was studied, including petroleum-derived JP-8. Five of the alternative fuels were synthetic paraffinic kerosenes (SPK) derived from non- petroleum fossil fuel feedstocks utilizing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FT- SPK): Sasol iso-paraffinic kerosene (IPK), Sasol gas to liquid (GTL)-1 and GTL- 2, Shell GTL and Syntroleum S-8 (synthetic JP-8). Four fuels were renewable bio- based fuels: Syntroleum R-8 hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids jet fuel derived from mixed fats and oils (HEFA-F), Syntroleum Sapphire derived from algae (HEFA-A), Amyris IPK and Swedish Biofuel. Each fuel was applied for four hours to the skin of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits using occluded or semi- occluded exposures, and evaluated by the Draize method. A score of slightly irritating was determined for the occluded and semi-occluded exposures to all test substances, with the exception of a score of non-irritating for the semi- occluded exposures of Sasol IPK, SyntroleumS-8 and HEFA-F. Very slight erythema persisted through study day 14 for the occluded exposures to Amyris IPK, Swedish Biofuel, and HEFA-A. Normal handling of these fuels should not result in increased dermal irritation among airmen.