1
|
Mattie DR, Wong BA, Mumy KL, McInturf SM, Shafer LM, Allen R, Edwards JT, Sibomana I, Sterner TR. Toxicity and human health assessment of an alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) synthetic kerosene developed under an international agreement with Sweden. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2023; 86:263-282. [PMID: 36883736 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2023.2186295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) Synthetic Kerosene with Aromatics (SKA) fuels are produced by dehydration and refining of alcohol feed stocks. ATJ SKA fuel known as SB-8 was developed by Swedish Biofuels as a cooperative agreement between Sweden and AFRL/RQTF. SB-8 including standard additives was tested in a 90-day toxicity study with male and female Fischer 344 rats exposed to 0, 200, 700, or 2000 mg/m3 fuel in an aerosol/vapor mixture for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week. Aerosols represented 0.04 and 0.84% average fuel concentration in 700 or 2000 mg/m3 exposure groups. Examination of vaginal cytology and sperm parameters found no marked changes in reproductive health. Neurobehavioral effects were increased rearing activity (motor activity) and significantly decreased grooming (functional observational battery) in 2000 mg/m3 female rats. Hematological changes were limited to elevated platelet counts in 2000 mg/m3 exposed males. Minimal focal alveolar epithelial hyperplasia with increased number of alveolar macrophages was noted in some 2000 mg/m3 males and one female rat. Additional rats tested for genotoxicity by micronucleus (MN) formation did not detect bone marrow cell toxicity or alterations in number of MN; SB-8 was not clastogenic. Inhalation results were similar to effects reported for JP-8. Both JP-8 and SB fuels were moderately irritating under occlusive wrapped conditions but slightly irritating under semi-occlusion. Exposure to SB-8, alone or as 50:50 blend with petroleum-derived JP-8, is not likely to enhance adverse human health risks in the military workplace.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D R Mattie
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711 Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - B A Wong
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
- Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - K L Mumy
- Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - S M McInturf
- Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - L M Shafer
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQTF), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
- University of Dayton Research Institute, Dayton, OH, USA
| | - R Allen
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQTF), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - J T Edwards
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQTF), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - I Sibomana
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711 Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - T R Sterner
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711 Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ben Maamar M, Nilsson E, Thorson JLM, Beck D, Skinner MK. Epigenome-wide association study for transgenerational disease sperm epimutation biomarkers following ancestral exposure to jet fuel hydrocarbons. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 98:61-74. [PMID: 32905848 PMCID: PMC7736201 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Jet fuel hydrocarbons is the generic name for aviation fuels used in gas-turbine engine powered aircraft. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion created the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, and the second largest oil spill in human history with over 800 million liters of hydrocarbons released into the Gulf of Mexico over a period of 3 months. Due to the widespread use of jet fuel hydrocarbons, this compound mixture has been recognized as the single largest chemical exposure for military personnel. Previous animal studies have demonstrated the ability of jet fuel (JP-8) exposure to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease susceptibility in subsequent generations. The diseases observed include late puberty, kidney, obesity and multiple disease pathologies. The current study is distinct and was designed to identify potential sperm DNA methylation biomarkers for specific transgenerational diseases. Observations show disease specific differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) called epimutations in the transgenerational F3 generation great-grand-offspring male rats ancestrally exposed to jet fuel. The potential epigenetic DMR biomarkers were identified for late puberty, kidney, obesity, and multiple diseases, and found to be predominantly disease specific. These disease specific DMRs have associated genes that were previously shown to be linked with each of these specific diseases. Therefore, the germline (i.e. sperm) has environmentally induced ancestrally derived epimutations that have the potential to transgenerationally transmit disease susceptibilities to subsequent generations. Epigenetic biomarkers for specific diseases could be developed as medical diagnostics to facilitate clinical management of disease, and allow preventative medicine therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Millissia Ben Maamar
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Eric Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Jennifer L M Thorson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Daniel Beck
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4236, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tracey R, Manikkam M, Guerrero-Bosagna C, Skinner MK. Hydrocarbons (jet fuel JP-8) induce epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of obesity, reproductive disease and sperm epimutations. Reprod Toxicol 2013; 36:104-16. [PMID: 23453003 PMCID: PMC3587983 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2012.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2012] [Revised: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Environmental compounds have been shown to promote epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. The current study was designed to determine if a hydrocarbon mixture involving jet fuel (JP-8) promotes epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. Gestating F0 generation female rats were transiently exposed during the fetal gonadal development period. The direct exposure F1 generation had an increased incidence of kidney abnormalities in both females and males, prostate and pubertal abnormalities in males, and primordial follicle loss and polycystic ovarian disease in females. The first transgenerational generation is the F3 generation, and the jet fuel lineage had an increased incidence of primordial follicle loss and polycystic ovarian disease in females, and obesity in both females and males. Analysis of the jet fuel lineage F3 generation sperm epigenome identified 33 differential DNA methylation regions, termed epimutations. Observations demonstrate hydrocarbons can promote epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease and sperm epimutations, potential biomarkers for ancestral exposures.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/metabolism
- Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/pathology
- Abnormalities, Multiple/chemically induced
- Abnormalities, Multiple/metabolism
- Abnormalities, Multiple/pathology
- Animals
- DNA Methylation/drug effects
- Epigenesis, Genetic/drug effects
- Female
- Genitalia, Male/abnormalities
- Genitalia, Male/drug effects
- Genitalia, Male/metabolism
- Genitalia, Male/pathology
- Hydrocarbons/toxicity
- Infertility, Female/chemically induced
- Infertility, Female/genetics
- Infertility, Female/metabolism
- Infertility, Female/pathology
- Infertility, Male/chemically induced
- Infertility, Male/genetics
- Infertility, Male/metabolism
- Infertility, Male/pathology
- Male
- Maternal Exposure/adverse effects
- Mutagens/toxicity
- Mutation/drug effects
- Obesity/chemically induced
- Obesity/genetics
- Obesity/metabolism
- Obesity/pathology
- Ovary/abnormalities
- Ovary/drug effects
- Ovary/metabolism
- Ovary/pathology
- Paternal Exposure/adverse effects
- Pregnancy
- Random Allocation
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Spermatozoa/drug effects
- Spermatozoa/metabolism
- Spermatozoa/pathology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Tracey
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4236, United States
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
White KL, DeLorme MP, Beatty PW, Smith MJ, Peachee VL. Jet fuel kerosene is not immunosuppressive in mice or rats following inhalation for 28 days. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2013; 76:778-97. [PMID: 24028664 PMCID: PMC3805448 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2013.819307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Previous reports indicated that inhalation of JP-8 aviation turbine fuel is immunosuppressive. However, in some of those studies, the exposure concentrations were underestimated, and percent of test article as vapor or aerosol was not determined. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the observed effects are attributable to the base hydrocarbon fuel (jet fuel kerosene) or to the various fuel additives in jet fuels. The present studies were conducted, in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations, to evaluate the effects of jet fuel kerosene on the immune system, in conjunction with an accurate, quantitative characterization of the aerosol and vapor exposure concentrations. Two female rodent species (B6C3F1 mice and Crl:CD rats) were exposed by nose-only inhalation to jet fuel kerosene at targeted concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/m(3) for 6 h daily for 28 d. Humoral, cell-mediated, and innate immune functions were subsequently evaluated. No marked effects were observed in either species on body weights, spleen or thymus weights, the T-dependent antibody-forming cell response (plaque assay), or the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. With a few exceptions, spleen cell numbers and phenotypes were also unaffected. Natural killer (NK) cell activity in mice was unaffected, while the NK assessment in rats was not usable due to an unusually low response in all groups. These studies demonstrate that inhalation of jet fuel kerosene for 28 d at levels up to 2000 mg/m(3) did not adversely affect the functional immune responses of female mice and rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimber L. White
- ImmunoTox®, Inc., Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Address correspondence to Kimber L. White, Jr., PhD, ImmunoTox®, Inc., Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, 800 East Leigh Street; Suite 209, Richmond, VA 23219, USA. E-mail:
| | - Michael P. DeLorme
- ImmunoTox®, Inc., Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Matthew J. Smith
- ImmunoTox®, Inc., Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Vanessa L. Peachee
- ImmunoTox®, Inc., Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hilgaertner JW, He X, Camacho D, Badowski M, Witten M, Harris DT. The influence of hydrocarbon composition and exposure conditions on jet fuel-induced immunotoxicity. Toxicol Ind Health 2011; 27:887-98. [PMID: 21402657 DOI: 10.1177/0748233711399319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chronic jet fuel exposure could be detrimental to the health and well-being of exposed personnel, adversely affect their work performance and predispose these individuals to increased incidences of infectious disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Short-term (7 day) JP-8 jet fuel exposure has been shown to cause lung injury and immune dysfunction. Physiological alterations can be influenced not only by jet fuel exposure concentration (absolute amount), but also are dependent on the type of exposure (aerosol versus vapor) and the composition of the jet fuel (hydrocarbon composition). In the current study, these variables were examined with relation to effects of jet fuel exposure on immune function. It was discovered that real-time, in-line monitoring of jet fuel exposure resulted in aerosol exposure concentrations that were approximately one-eighth the concentration of previously reported exposure systems. Further, the effects of a synthetic jet fuel designed to eliminate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were also examined. Both of these changes in exposure reduced but did not eliminate the deleterious effects on the immune system of exposed mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua W Hilgaertner
- Department of Immunobiology, Medical Research Building, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hanas JS, Bruce Briggs G, Lerner MR, Lightfoot SA, Larabee JL, Karsies TJ, Epstein RB, Hanas RJ, Brackett DJ, Hocker JR. Systemic molecular and cellular changes induced in rats upon inhalation of JP-8 petroleum fuel vapor. Toxicol Mech Methods 2010; 20:204-12. [PMID: 20233090 DOI: 10.3109/15376511003681009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Limited information is available regarding systemic changes in mammals associated with exposures to petroleum/hydrocarbon fuels. In this study, systemic toxicity of JP-8 jet fuel was observed in a rat inhalation model at different JP-8 fuel vapor concentrations (250, 500, or 1000 mg/m(3), for 91 days). Gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry sequencing identified the alpha-2 microglobulin protein to be elevated in rat kidney in a JP-8 dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis of kidney and lung tissue extracts revealed JP-8 dependent elevation of inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Tissue changes were observed histologically (hematoxylin and eosin staining) in liver, kidney, lung, bone marrow, and heart, and more prevalently at medium or high JP-8 vapor phase exposures (500-1000 mg/m(3)) than at low vapor phase exposure (250 mg/m(3)) or non-JP-8 controls. JP-8 fuel-induced liver alterations included dilated sinusoids, cytoplasmic clumping, and fat cell deposition. Changes to the kidneys included reduced numbers of nuclei, and cytoplasmic dumping in the lumen of proximal convoluted tubules. JP-8 dependent lung alterations were edema and dilated alveolar capillaries, which allowed clumping of red blood cells (RBCs). Changes in the bone marrow in response to JP-8 included reduction of fat cells and fat globules, and cellular proliferation (RBCs, white blood cells-WBCs, and megakaryocytes). Heart tissue from JP-8 exposed animals contained increased numbers of inflammatory and fibroblast cells, as well as myofibril scarring. cDNA array analysis of heart tissue revealed a JP-8 dependent increase in atrial natriuretic peptide precursor mRNA and a decrease in voltage-gated potassium (K+) ion channel mRNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jay S Hanas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|