Subacute effects of inhaled Jet Fuel-A (Jet A) on airway and immune function in female rats

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to assess the potential airway and immune effects following subacute (14 d) exposure of female rats to 500, 1000 or 2000 mg/m³ of Jet-A for 4 h/d. The first study used Sprague-Dawley rats; the second study included both Fischer 344 (F344) and Sprague-Dawley rats. In the first study, exposure to 2000 mg/m³ jet fuel may have caused significant upper airway inflammation on day 7 post-exposure, as indicated by elevated protein and lactate dehydrogenase in nasal lavage fluid, but any inflammation resolved by day 14 post-exposure. No significant impact on immune cell populations in the spleens was observed. The histological examination showed no evidence of infectious or toxic effect. In the second study, body weights of the F344 rats in the 2000 mg/m³ group were depressed, as compared to the controls, at the end of the exposure. Some lung lavage fluid markers were increased at 24 h after the final exposure, however, no test article-induced histological changes were observed in the lungs, nasal cavities, or any other tissue of any of the jet fuel exposed animals. Overall, these studies demonstrated limited evidence of effects of 14 d of exposure to Jet A on the airways, immune system, or any other organ or system of female Sprague-Dawley and F344 rats, with no remarkable differences between strains. The lack of identified significant airway or immune effects was in contrast to previous examinations of jet fuel for pulmonary toxicity in mice and rats and for immunotoxicity in mice.

• 2 week
• bronchoalveolar lavage
• immunotoxicity
• inhalation
• Jet A
• Jet fuel
• lung injury
• nasal lavage
• rats
• vapor and aerosol

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge CDR Warren Jederberg, CDR Bradley Phillips, CDR Gail Chapman, LT Erin Wilfong, Dr Reema Casavant, Dr Krista Hess, Heather Fullenkamp, Tracy Doyle, Shawn McInturf, Scott Lohrke, Keith Johnson, Kevin Reilly, Bob Cunningham, Amanda Lear, Jessica Hirsch and Luke Petkewitz, current and former staff of the Environmental Health Effects Laboratory (now part of Naval Medical Research Unit-Dayton), and the Vivarium staff, including LtC Randy Rietcheck and Brenda Schimmel, for their contributions to the design and conduct of these experiments.

Animal welfare statement

The study was conducted under protocol F-WA-2005-0086, which was approved by the Wright-Patterson AFB Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. These studies were conducted in a facility accredited by the AAALAC. The experiments reported herein were conducted in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and in accordance with the principles set forth in the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, National Academy Press, 1996.

Copyright statement

The authors are contract or civilian employees of the U.S. Government. This work was prepared as part of our official duties. Title 17 U.S.C. §105 provides that “Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government”. Title 17 U.S.C. §101 defines a U.S. Government work as a work prepared by a military service member or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties.