Jet Fuel Exposure and Auditory Outcomes in Australian Air Force Personnel

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fuente A ; Fuentes-Lopez E ; Hickson L ; Khan A ; Morata, Thais C. ; Williams W
• Description:
  Background: Animal data suggest that jet fuels such as JP-8 are associated with hearing deficits when combined with noise and that the effect is more pronounced than with noise exposure alone. Some studies suggest peripheral dysfunction while others suggest central auditory dysfunction. Human data are limited in this regard. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible chronic adverse effects of JP-8 combined with noise exposure on the peripheral and central auditory systems in humans. Methods: Fifty-seven participants who were current personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force were selected. Based on their levels of exposure to jet fuels, participants were divided into three exposure groups (low, moderate, high). Groups were also categorised based on their noise exposure levels (low, moderate, high). All participants were evaluated by tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry (1-12 kHz), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), auditory brainstem response (ABR), words-in-noise, compressed speech, dichotic digit test, pitch pattern sequence test, duration pattern sequence test and adaptive test of temporal resolution. All auditory tests were carried out after the participants were away from the Air Force base for a minimum of two weeks, thus two weeks without jet fuel and noise exposure. Results: Jet fuel exposure was significantly associated with hearing thresholds at 4 and 8 kHz; average hearing thresholds across frequencies in the better ear; DPOAEs at 2.8, 4 and 6 kHz; ABR wave V latency in the right ear; compressed speech and words-in-noise. Further analyses revealed that participants with low exposure level to jet fuels showed significantly better results for the aforementioned procedures than participants with moderate and high exposure levels. All results were controlled for the covariates of age and noise exposure levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that jet fuel exposure, when combined with noise exposure, has an adverse effect on audibility in humans. Taking all the test results into consideration, jet fuel exposure combined with noise exposure specifically seems to affect the peripheral hearing system in humans. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Fuel Oils Hearing Hearing Loss Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Men Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women

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• Keywords:
  Audiological Testing Audiometry Auditory System Author Keywords: Exposure Exposure Levels Fuels Health Effects Hearing Disorders Hearing Loss Humans Jet Engine Fuels Jet Fuels Military Personnel Noise Exposure Noise Induced Hearing Loss Noise Levels Risk Factors

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• ISSN:
  1471-2458
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  19
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056210
• Citation:
  BMC Public Health 2019 May; 19:675
• Contact Point Address:
  Adrian Fuente, 1School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
• Email:
  adrian.fuente@umontreal.ca
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  BMC Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7a781e0807274b7d072dce8e7171fe08edb14516f1d2778af2b0b8ecee995715cfc11075be1ee83599f58f7ba1bec80c39e4759ec72f20e3fd98cf0bdaae0e24
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213862/cdc_213862_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.10 MB ]