The Effects of Jet Fuel on Immune Cells of Fuel System Maintenance Workers

Jet fuel is a common occupational exposure among commercial and military maintenance workers. JP-8 jet fuel, a military formulation, has shown immunotoxic effects in mice, but little data exist for humans. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether immune cell counts in the perip...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2003-01, Vol.45 (1), p.79-86
Main Authors: Rhodes, A. Gayle, LeMasters, Grace Kawas, Lockey, James E., Smith, James W., Yiin, James H., Egeghy, Peter, Gibson, Roger
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
B-Lymphocytes - drug effects
Biological and medical sciences
Cells
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Cross-Sectional Studies
Effects
Flow Cytometry
Fuels
Humans
Hydrocarbons - pharmacology
Immune system
Inhalation Exposure
Kerosene
Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated - drug effects
Lymphocyte Count
Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects
Medical sciences
Military Personnel
Neutrophils - drug effects
Occupational Exposure
Occupational hazards
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Repair & maintenance
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - drug effects
Toxicology
Various organic compounds
Vehicle Emissions - analysis
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Summary:Jet fuel is a common occupational exposure among commercial and military maintenance workers. JP-8 jet fuel, a military formulation, has shown immunotoxic effects in mice, but little data exist for humans. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether immune cell counts in the peripheral blood were altered among tank entry workers at three Air Force bases. After adjusting for covariates, fuel system maintenance personnel (n = 45) were found to have significantly higher counts of white blood cells (P = 0.01), neutrophils (P = 0.05), and monocytes (P = 0.02) when compared with a low-exposure group (n = 78), but no differences were noted in the numbers of total lymphocytes, T-cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells, natural killer cells, and B-cells. Investigations are needed to evaluate the functional ability of these cells to produce lymphokines and cytokines and modulate the immune system.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/00043764-200301000-00016