Exposure to jet fuel, not just noise, contributes to hearing problems

VA ^ | March 20, 2014 | VA

[US Navy Vet]

It's a fact aircrews know well. Service members who work in and around aircraft are more likely to suffer hearing deficits. But new VA research on the effects of jet propulsion fuel-8, commonly known as JP-8, suggests the problem may be more complex than previously thought.

Dr. O'neil Guthrie, a research scientist and clinical audiologist with the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System in California, says it's not just the noise that is harmful. It can also be the fuel itself.

"JP-8 is one part of a larger class of hydrocarbon chemicals," says Guthrie. "What we're seeing is that even at subtoxic levels, the exposure is affecting the brain and resulting in auditory processing dysfunctions."

[US Navy Vet]

Kinda Old but interesting.

[SkyDancer]

- what? -

[dfwgator]

Eh?

[Yo-Yo]

My left ear is screwed up because I was riding in a single engine piston private plane with a buddy and during takeoff I readjusted the left ear cup of my Bose noise cancelling headset.

Between the engine noise and the Bose headset trying to cancel sound from the entire cockpit, I lost all hearing above 7KHz and have constant tinnitus.

No JP-8 was harmed in the process. Just a few gallons of 100LL.

[yoe]

"Exposure to jet fuel, not just noise, contributes to hearing problems"Yes, an interesting article...However, I forsee a new medical/pharmaceutical industry springing forth and a lot of Snake Oil being sold for the new hard of hearing.

[SaveFerris]

I’m so far behind the times I remember when JP-4 was the in thing.

And JP-7 was for that one thing that went all zoom ‘n’ stuff.

[Spktyr]

Noise cancelling headsets are quite evil. Even in a quiet room, they make my ears hurt from the sound pressure level.

[pas]

Global warming. Stop all flights.

[SkyDancer]

Those Dem idiots who keep yelling about ending fossil fuel/oil do not live in the real world.

[A Navy Vet]

"I’m so far behind the times I remember when JP-4 was the in thing."

I'm probably wrong, but in my day on the flight deck, what's now called JP-4 was Avgas. JP-5 was the jet turbine fuel of the day. It's been half a lifetime, so what do I really recall correctly?

[Grampa Dave]

So anyone, who was a Skittle on a carrier has the potential of two adverse exposure problems.

[IndispensableDestiny]

What about soldiers and marines filling their vehicles and generators with JP-8? If they do not include them, then the study is flawed.

[SaveFerris]

I remember it being called Avgas.

There were legends of people obtaining some for their hot cars in the 1970’s.

If it was 50-50 diesel / gasoline (as Wiki claims) seems like you’d have to clean those cylinder heads, piston chambers and even the piston heads every so often.

Been awhile since I rebuilt a couple of engines (and also swapped out the 2V heads on my 351 Cleveland for 4V heads (larger chambers). Still low compression - 8.5 with the original heads.

[SaveFerris]

Claims JP-4 was primarily Air Force(?)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP-4

[SaveFerris]

Seems like a question for you and your C-141.

[A Navy Vet]

"So anyone, who was a Skittle on a carrier has the potential of two adverse exposure problems."

Navy '75 - '86, and never heard the word "Skittle". Are you referring to Airdales?

[backwoods-engineer]

I think that’s the intent. Scratch this doctor, and I think you’ll find an environmentalist wacko Lefty underneath.

[backwoods-engineer]

I didn’t serve, but I think it is a recent term for Aviation Bosun’s Mates.

[null and void]

I know from personal experience that the Marines used JP-4, and presumably therefore so did the Navy.