EFFECT OF CHRONIC LOW-LEVEL EXPOSURE TO JET FUEL ON POSTURAL BALANCE OF US AIR-FORCE PERSONNEL

This study used the postural stability technique to investigate the ne urological effects of cumulative low-level exposure to raw JP-8 jet fu el vapor on aircraft maintenance personnel, All subjects performed two sets of four 30-second postural sway tests. The results of mean cumul ative exposure levels (in parts per million +/- standard error of mean ) were the following: naphthas, 1308 +/- 292; benzene, 21.2 +/- 5.7; t oluene, 23.8 +/- 6.1; and m-,o-, p-xylene, 22.7 +/- 5.4. Covariate adj usted regression analysis of the exposed group data showed a statistic ally significant association (P < 0.05) between the solvents (benzene, toluene, and xylene) and increased postural sway response, For all so lvent exposures, the ''eyes closed, on foam'' test provided the strong est association between sway length and JP-8 benzene (r(2) range, 0.45 to 0.52), implying subtle influence on vestibular/proprioception func tionalities.