Dermal toxicity and microscopic alterations by JP-8 jet fuel components in vivo in rabbit

In this study, we investigated the skin irritation, macroscopic and microscopic barrier alteration in vivo in rabbits from aliphatic and aromatic components of jet propellant-8 (JP-8) jet fuel. Macroscopic barrier properties were evaluated by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin capacitance, and skin temperature; microscopic changes were observed by light microscopy. Draize visual scoring system was used to measure skin irritation. We found significant (P<0.05) increase in temperature at the site of all chemically saturated patches immediately after patch removal in comparison to the control site. Tridecane (TRI) produced a greater increase in temperature and capacitance at all time points than all the other components of JP-8. Both the aliphatic and aromatic components increased the TEWL at all time points. Tridecane produced greater increase in TEWL followed by naphthalene (NAP), 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN), 2-metylnaphthalene (2-MN), tetradecane (TET), and dodecane (DOD). All of the above components of JP-8 caused moderate to severe erythema and edema, which were not resolved to the baseline even after 24 h of patch removal. Light microscopy revealed an increase in epidermal thickness (ET), and decrease in length and thickness of collagen fibers’ bundle by the above components of JP-8. These results suggest potential dermatotoxicity from the JP-8 components.