How dirty is jet fuel?
Although aviation fuels are sterile when first produced, they inevitably become contaminated with microorganisms that are omnipresent in both air and water. Microorganisms found in aviation jet fuels include bacteria, yeasts and fungi.
Studies of military personnel suggest that exposure to JP-8 may affect the nervous system. Studies in laboratory animals suggest that exposure to these jet fuels can also cause damage to the liver, immune system, and the skin.
On a life-cycle basis, aviation/jet fuel has a high carbon footprint. Aviation gas emits 18.3 pounds (lb) and jet fuel 21.1 lb of CO2 per gallon combusted, and flying one mile on average emits 53 pounds of CO2. It directly contributes to climate change and has various negative environmental effects.
Furthermore, when burned in an aircraft engine, jet fuel emits fewer pollutants than gasoline does. This is because jet fuel contains fewer impurities and produces less volatile exhaust gases upon combustion.
JP-8 and other kerosene-based fuels have been shown to cause skin irritation, skin sensitization and even skin tumors with repeated or prolonged contact. Treatment primarily involves removal of the offending agent by washing with a gentle soap and water. Topical corticosteroids have not been proven beneficial.
The vapors from those fuels contain a mixture of volatile hydrocarbons, which at high concentrations are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and can produce anesthesia or asphyxia at high absorbed doses (Andrews and Snyder 1986; Marshall and Wollman 1985).
Studies examining the absorption of jet fuels through the skin have shown that damage to the skin and the longer jet fuels stays on your skin will increase the amount of chemicals that will enter your body. Once jet fuels enter your body, the chemicals in the fuel will be distributed throughout your body.
Air traffic represents less than 2-3% of the global CO2 emissions whereas road traffic accounts for around 10% of these direct emissions. Still, planes remain among the most polluting means of transport, together with cars.
Jet fuel has higher sulphur content than diesel fuel, and much higher than gasoline/avgas. Sulphur compounds may actually be helping to cool the planet though, as they help form clouds (acidic clouds) which reflect sunlight back into space.
Fuel dumps are instructed under FAA guidance to be done over remote or oceanic areas, or at an altitude at which the dumped fuel can atomize before reaching the ground, although such guidance may be bypassed in dire emergencies, according to the FAA.
Why does jet fuel smell good?
Jet-A1 is refined kerosene, which has a distinctive smell which some find unpleasant and others not. Aviation Gasoline (AVGAS) has many "aromatic" hydrocarbons to boost octane which are called aromatic because of their distinctive odors.
Natural gas one of the safest and cleanest fuels available. It emits less pollution than other fossil fuel sources. When natural gas is burned, it produces mostly carbon dioxide and water vapor -- the same substances emitted when humans exhale.

The octane ratings of AVGAS, a gasoline-based fuel, are usually either 91 or 100 (lean mixture) and 96 or 130 (rich mixture). The octane rating of jet fuel is much lower, around 15 – this is much more like automotive diesel and thus much more resistant to detonating due to sparks or compression.
fuels can enter the body through the lungs, digestive tract, or skin. components of the fuels that can pass into the bloodstream are not known, but for some components it can be significant. skin contact will increase the amount absorbed through the skin.
Exposure to jet fuel has been linked to multiple neurological problems, including dementia, Alzheimer's, and decreases in cognitive functioning. If such exposure to jet propulsion fuel while serving in the military has affected you mentally, you can receive significant disability benefits from the VA.
Signal word Danger 1/25 Page 2 Revision date: 15/08/2022 Supersedes date: 08/06/2020 Aviation Jet Fuel JET A-1 (JETA1) Hazard statements H226 Flammable liquid and vapour. H315 Causes skin irritation. H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness. H304 May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
To receive VA disability benefits for jet fuel exposure, you must have a medical diagnosis for a condition related to the exposure. Then, you have to be able to service connect the condition, meaning you need to prove how you were exposed to jet fuel during your service.
They are generally colorless liquids and smell like kerosene. JP-4, the first wide cut standardized jet fuel came into use in 1951 and an improved version called JP-8 was developed in 1978.
Aerotoxic Syndrome (AS) was coined in 1999 to describe an illness that some believed was caused by contaminated cabin air in jet aircraft.
Chronic jet fuel exposure could be detrimental to the health and well-being of exposed personnel, adversely affect their work performance and predispose these individuals to increased incidences of infectious disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
What happens if you get jet fuel in your mouth?
The major health threat of ingestion occurs from the danger of aspiration (breathing) of liquid drops into the lungs, particularly from vomiting. Aspiration may result in chemical pneumonia (fluid in the lungs), severe lung damage, respiratory failure and even death.
Jet fuel exposure caused skin damage (erythema) at high temperature in addition to chemical intoxication. Erythema scores of the skin were distinct for jet fuels.
Compared to flying to a destination and staying in a hotel, cruising almost always has a far higher emissions profile, according to research by Comer and others. A five-night, 1,200 mile cruise results in about 1,100 lbs of CO2 emissions, according to Comer.
In fact, unless you're looking to venture from Los Altos to LA off-road through state parks the whole way—in a Hummer with Tonka-truck mud tires—driving is generally greener than flying.
So, if you're traveling with three or more people, driving is the better option, and here's why: Three people on the cross-country flight would account for 1.86 tons of carbon emissions (0.62 tons of CO2 x 3), compared to the total 1.26 tons of carbon the vehicle would produce (ignoring that the extra weight would ...
Jet Fuel Cost by Aircraft Cabin Size
For example, on May 11, 2022, the IATA per gallon price was $4.82 in North America, $4.01 in Europe, and $3.55 in Asia. At Boston's Hanscomb Field Jet A was selling between $9.79 and $13.38 per gallon.
Aircraft efficiency differs, as do the conditions on different routes—a domestic airliner can get anywhere from 45.5 to 77.6 miles per gallon per passenger, with an industry average of about 51 miles per gallon of fuel per passenger.
There are four main fuel tanks in the wings, a tail plane tank, a center wing tank, and reserve fuel tanks in the outer wing sections. The maximum fuel capacity is 216,846 L (57,284 gal.).
Fuel dumping (or a fuel jettison) is a procedure used by aircraft in certain emergency situations before a return to the airport shortly after takeoff, or before landing short of the intended destination (emergency landing) to reduce the aircraft's weight.
Airlines find that fuel dumping can actually be cheaper than not dumping in certain circumstances. But it's not something pilots do on a routine basis. We spoke with Alison Duquette, spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who assured us that it doesn't happen very often.
Do planes dump fuel while flying?
It would seem strange that pilots would purposefully dump fuel from their aircraft at a time when fuel prices have skyrocketed. What's more bizarre is that they do it in the air while flying. Tossing fuel into the air is a safe procedure for a good reason. Additionally, it is not as wasteful as it seems.
DEHYDRATION
Very often, you forget to drink water when you are at the airport due to all the things you need to do before getting on your seat, this lack of water in your body is the main reason that leads to dehydration. What's worse, when you get dehydrated you also get bad breath.
Heat of combustion is similar to that of so it is used as aviation in jet aeroplanes. Kerosene is less volatile than gasoline so the temperature at which it will generate a flammable vapour near its surface is $ 38^\circ C $ or higher whereas gasoline is as low as $ - 40^\circ C $ .
Jet-A powers modern commercial airliners and is a mix of extremely refined kerosene and burns at temperatures at or above 49 °C (120 °F). Kerosene-based fuel has a much higher flash point than gasoline-based fuel, meaning that it requires significantly higher temperature to ignite.
Coal produces more pollution than any other energy source. While coal produces just 44% of U.S. electricity, it accounts for 80% of power plant carbon emissions. Burning coal leads to soot, smog, acid rain, global warming, and carbon emissions.
Natural gas is stored under high pressure as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). It is a cleaner fuel as it emits less toxic gases into the atmosphere than other fuels like petrol, diesel and coal upon combustion. Hence, it is now being used as a fuel for transport vehicles.
Generally, seasoned wood is seen as the most environmentally-friendly fuel and therefore the one that is the most widely-reccommended.
At higher altitudes the atmosphere is colder. At 10,600 meters (35,000 feet), (the average cruising altitude of a modern passenger jet) the temperature is about -40°to -51°C (-40°to -60°F).
JP-5 is the U.S. Navy's primary jet fuel, and JP-8 is one of the jet fuels used by the U.S. Air Force. Both JP-5 and JP-8 are colorless liquids and smell like kerosene, flammable and toxic for human. JP-5 and JP-8 can be made from refining crude petroleum oil deposits found underground and under the ocean floor.
The JP-8 is a kerosene which contains additives with the objective of improving its properties for military use. As such, it is used in military aircraft with the exception of reactors loaded on aircraft carriers, which use JP-5. JP-5 is also a fuel derived from kerosene.
Did Tom Cruise fly in Top Gun?
Top Gun Maverick's Tom Cruise P-51 Scene Was Real
Although Cruise didn't fly the F-18 while shooting Top Gun: Maverick due to Navy restrictions, he was piloting in the Tom Cruise P-51 Mustang scene. It's not surprising he was flying the plane, given how well-known Tom Cruise is for doing his own stunts.
Loose-fitting clothing may be beneficial in avoiding constriction of veins. Some recommend taking short naps, instead of long ones, to avoid prolonged inactivity. If you have any of the risk factors for DVT, consult your physician before long trips.
Temporary loss of consciousness, spinal injury, head and neck injury and limb injury were likely due to the overload value during ejection, which may have reached about 20 G, with a high growth rate of G value and short action time. The ejection through the canopy increased the G value and G growth rate significantly.
Exposure to jet fuel may occur during fuel handling, jet maintenance, and working on the flight line. What this means to you: At high concentrations, jet fuel can affect the nervous system, causing headache, dizziness, and lack of coordination.
Very high and/or prolonged exposures to exhaust fumes may cause respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, chest tightness, breathlessness, and decrease in exercise tolerance, particularly in persons who are naturally predisposed or have a history of asthma or in persons with pre-existing lung problems.
An acute exposure to hydrocarbon-based solvents at high concentrations (doses not specified) has been reported in a case study to produce kidney failure (Beirne and Brennan 1972); the authors reported that a person exposed to jet fuel (type and dose not specified) while fueling aircraft in the U.S. Air Force had mild, ...
Studies in laboratory animals exposed to JP-8 during pregnancy did not find birth defects in the newborn animals. However, some effects on muscle coordination and immune function were found in the offspring.
The Air Force typically uses kerosene-based JP-8 fuel. This type of jet fuel is a complex mix of hydrocarbons and other chemicals like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, sulfur compounds, and arsenic. When these substances are inhaled or absorbed through the skin, they can cause significant health problems.
Among those living in low aircraft noise areas, less than a quarter had increased blood pressures. In addition, many of those who lived with high levels of aircraft noise had some enlargement to the left side of the heart.
Living near an airport can have negative effects on health and quality of life due to noise pollution and air pollution from aircrafts. The noise from airplanes can disrupt sleep, increase stress levels and lead to hearing loss.
Does jet fuel cause neuropathy?
Chronic jet fuel exposure may cause peripheral sensory neuropathy. Jet fuel vapors are irritating to the respiratory tract.
In May 2009, after review of the record, a VA examiner opined that COPD was due to or a result of jet fuel and/or jet engine exhaust exposure. He opined that COPD was at least as likely as not (50/50 probability) caused by or a result of jet fuel and/or jet engine exhaust exposure.
The aircraft fuel tanks are located in the wings, so you're not allowed to walk under them in case of fuel leakage. You don't want to get anywhere near flammable stuff unprotected. All in all, it is a safety thing. Saving three seconds by not walking around the wing is just not worth the risk.
Before you rent or buy a new home, you can check out a few websites and apps to find out if you live under a flight path. With FlightStats you can track flights by airport, whereas FlightAware Flight Tracker clues you into private planes as well.
During the day, when the air is warmer than the ground, noise energy from an airplane staying in the air, so while you can still hear it, it seems quieter. Conversely, at night, when the ground is warmer than the air, the noise is drawn down, making it seem louder.
"People who live within six miles [of an airport] have higher levels of asthma and heart problems," the Daily Mail reports after a US study has suggested exposure to carbon monoxide from planes may impact on health. This potential pollutant is thought to occur when planes are taxiing on busy runways.
Living near an airport can have negative effects on health and quality of life due to noise pollution and air pollution from aircrafts. The noise from airplanes can disrupt sleep, increase stress levels and lead to hearing loss.
Intentional or accidental inhalation of high concentrations of hydrocarbons has the potential to induce cardiac arrhythmias that can result in death.
There is no medical test that shows if you have been exposed to JP-4 and JP-7. Tests are available to determine if some of the chemicals commonly found in jet fuels are in your blood. However, the presence of these chemicals in blood may not necessarily mean that you have been exposed to JP-4 or JP-7.
Dr. M. J. related that he had reviewed a Mayo Clinic study that discussed the three (3) top causes of vasomotor sinusitis: jet fuel, exposure to jet exhaust, and exposure to harsh chemicals.