90-Day Inhalation Toxicity Study of FT Fuel
Abstract
FT or S-8 jet fuel is a synthetic organic mixture produced using the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process that converts natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons. This study was designed to assess the potential inhalation toxicity of FT jet fuel aerosol and vapor via whole-body inhalation exposure to male and female Fischer-344 rats for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week over approximately 90 days, at concentrations of 0, 200, 700, and 2000 mg/cu m. In the motor activity test, males exposed to the highest concentration of FT jet fuel showed a reduction in total activity; the females in the same group displayed a reduction in the initial exploratory activity. Neurobehavioral function was assessed using the Functional Observation Battery (FOB). A reduction in rearing behavior was observed in females exposed at the highest concentration. Olfactory epithelial degeneration and respiratory epithelial hyperplasia was observed in the nasal airways of the high concentration male and female rats. In the lung, minimal to mild multifocal areas of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the high concentration groups in male and female rats. Animals exposed to the high concentration of jet fuel showed somewhat lower body weights. Differences in the average organ weights were seen between the high exposure concentration and controls in the liver, thymus, epididymides, spleen, and heart of male rats, and lungs, kidneys, and brain of females. No significant differences were observed for the andrology endpoints or the vaginal cytology results. Toxicity results were comparable to current jet fuel, JP-8.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA557260
Entities
People
- Brian A. Wong
- Darol E. Dodd
- David R. Mattie
- Dean J. Wagner
- Debra K. Layko
- Elizabeth A. Gross
- Gabrielle A. Willson
- John P. Hinz
- Paul W. Ross
- Teresa R Sterner
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory