Conventional and Alternative Aviation Fuels: Occupational Exposure and Health Effects

Abstract

The use of fossil fuels in aircraft over the last few decades has driven several studies on health effects due to occupational exposure. Relatively recently, alternative fuel types have emerged, but their implications on the health of exposed workers have not attracted proportional attention. In our paper, we review both academic and gray literature about the health risks related to exposure to jet and alternative fuels. The literature suggests that, although the health effects on workers exposed to conventional fuels are concerning, there is no universally accepted dose–response relationship. The limited current research with animals on alternative fuels indicates that these fuels have not resulted in a reduction of health risks. Overall, it seems that, while aviation fuels are tested for efficiency and lower emissions, studies on health impacts in an occupational context have not been a priority. As occupational exposure to aviation fuels might increase due to the growth of the aviation industry, it is essential to conduct further research on the effects of exposures to both conventional and alternative aviation fuels and ensure that the latter do not pose the same risks or even greater ones than those of conventional fuels.