Jet fuel toxicity could be causing birth defects in the children of personnel

DEFENCE may review the science around jet fuel toxicity to explore possible links with birth defects in the children of personnel exposed to the hazardous fuel.

A RAAF F-111 hurtles past HMAS ADELAIDE on a mock bombing run as part of an Air Defence Exercise during Exercise Singaroo 06. The jets can fly faster than the speed of sound and their pilots do everything they can to test the participating ship's ability to defend themselves against air attack. Deep caption: The Australia-Singapore Defence relationship will continue to strengthen through Exercise Singaroo 2006, a military exercise being conducted from 23 July to 3 August 2006, which is designed to improve the interoperability of the respective defence forces. Exercise Singaroo is the tenth in a series of maritime warfare exercises between the defence forces of Australia and Singapore. Royal Australian Navy ships HMAS Adelaide, Darwin and Arunta will join Republic of Singapore Navy ships RSS Victory and Vigilance, two Victory Class Corvettes for the maritime warfare exercises. Royal Australian Air Force F111 aircraft from 1 Squadron and strike support aircraft from Pelair and Raytheon Australia will also fly in support of Singaroo.

DEFENCE may review the science around jet fuel toxicity to explore possible links with birth defects in the children of personnel exposed to the hazardous fuel.

Two studies are underway into further adverse effects of fuels and solvents.

Once the studies conclude Defence will consult with Veterans Affairs and advise government on the need for possible future studies.

A study in April this year found that elements of the high-performance Jet A1 fuel used to power fast jets damaged some of the body’s cells.

The “Jet Fuel Syndrome Study” also found that toxicity increased when the fuel was mixed with the two solvents identified as hazardous to humans in an earlier “deseal/reseal” study that focused on F-111 fuel tank maintenance workers.

Those workers have been compensated for damage caused during their RAAF service.

The earlier study also found that it was possible for damaged cells to live on “with malignant potential.”

It was unable to determine any long-term effects.

The study also concluded that genetic changes generated by the toxic fuel could be passed down through successive generations, “but currently have not been shown to cause birth defects or mutation in offspring”.