A researcher at Northern Arizona University (NAU) has discovered that, while jet noise can impair hearing, jet fuel may pose a risk for brain impairment in a person who has chronic or sustained exposure to it.
O’neil Guthrie, PhD, CCC-A
According to an announcement from NAU, O’neil Guthrie, PhD, CCC-A, a clinical audiologist and research scientist in the university’s Communication Sciences and Disorders department, studied the risk of auditory problems among test subjects exposed to sustained jet noise and jet fuel. After being approached by Air Force officials wanting to learn more about hearing loss among airmen, Guthrie and his colleagues also began investigating the potential effects of these exposures on the brain.
“What we found is that at low levels, jet fuel is not toxic to the ears but toxic to the brain,” said Guthrie. “Over time, these small exposures could accumulate and affect the brain’s function.”
In the university’s announcement, Guthrie explained that inhaling fuel is a more direct pathway to the brain. He said that clinical conditions such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress could be attributed, in part, to hydrocarbon-related disruptions in brain function, a factor previously overlooked during diagnoses.
Guthrie and his team conducted month-long experiments including exposure to jet fuel only, noise only, and a combination of both. Different exposure levels also were tested, NAU reports, and additional experiments will be conducted as a follow up on the initial findings.
Guthrie reported that hydrocarbons are found in fuels and many other commercial products, including cosmetics and cleaning products, yet most people don’t realize that sustained exposure to these organic solvents, even at low levels, can be toxic to the brain. He said his findings may have implications for establishing guidelines for individuals working around fuel and noise, including those employed at airports and in the military.
The National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Defense, and the Veterans Administration funded Guthrie’s basic science research.
Source: Northern Arizona University; Science Daily
Photo credits: Northern Arizona University; © Ivan Cholakov | Dreamstime.com
What risks are there for people living near and under landing and take off paths near major airports. a dear friend has lived almost in the backyard of JFK for 45 years and is suffering from unexplained neurological issues. Her son wants her to move but she is not sure if this would be helpful. Her doctor is a friend and colleague of mine and told me that she never mentioned living close to JFK airport… What are your thoughts? Thank you.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to your question. Some relevant research related to Dr Guthrie’s work can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26408153. I had a brief email correspondence with Dr Guthrie who has authored articles for The Hearing Review. As evidenced by these questions/comments, he has been swamped with calls and emails related to this research and is trying to work through them. For specific questions about the research, I would advise that you try to contact him at Northern Arizona Univ.
How can I get more info on this? Is there someone that I can talk to about this? I was in the Marine Corps 85-89 and I refueled aircraft all over the world. This article is talking about me. I showed another article about this I found to my wife and she agrees. If some someone would email me back.
Hi Clifton, I’ve emailed you some contact information for the Communication Sciences and Disorders clinical and research teams at Northern Arizona University. The research lead on this project is O’neil Guthrie, so you might ask for him or one of his colleagues. Here is the contact link: https://nau.edu/CHHS/CSD/CSD-Contact/
Best of luck to you!
Dear Clifton,
I am wondering if you received verified information about this for someone of my concern. Thank you if you have any information.
I’m interested to know more. Is there any update to this research?
Could chronic exposure jet fuel inhalation cause multiple sclerosis, as does organic solvents?
Unfortunately, your question falls outside of our scope of knowledge. However, other HR readers may be able to offer answers here. In the meantime, you may find some helpful information at one of these links: http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/Amyotrophic_Lateral_Sclerosis.cfm, or http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=771&tid=150