A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports

Abstract Background Airport personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to jet engine emissions, which similarly to diesel exhaust emissions include volatile organic compounds and particulate matter consisting of an inorganic carbon core with associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and metal...

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Main Authors: Katja M. Bendtsen, Elizabeth Bengtsen, Anne T. Saber, Ulla Vogel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-02-01
Series:Environmental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-020-00690-y
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author Katja M. Bendtsen
Elizabeth Bengtsen
Anne T. Saber
Ulla Vogel
author_facet Katja M. Bendtsen
Elizabeth Bengtsen
Anne T. Saber
Ulla Vogel
author_sort Katja M. Bendtsen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Airport personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to jet engine emissions, which similarly to diesel exhaust emissions include volatile organic compounds and particulate matter consisting of an inorganic carbon core with associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and metals. Diesel exhaust is classified as carcinogenic and the particulate fraction has in itself been linked to several adverse health effects including cancer. Method In this review, we summarize the available scientific literature covering human health effects of exposure to airport emissions, both in occupational settings and for residents living close to airports. We also report the findings from the limited scientific mechanistic studies of jet engine emissions in animal and cell models. Results Jet engine emissions contain large amounts of nano-sized particles, which are particularly prone to reach the lower airways upon inhalation. Size of particles and emission levels depend on type of aircraft, engine conditions, and fuel type, as well as on operation modes. Exposure to jet engine emissions is reported to be associated with biomarkers of exposure as well as biomarkers of effect among airport personnel, especially in ground-support functions. Proximity to running jet engines or to the airport as such for residential areas is associated with increased exposure and with increased risk of disease, increased hospital admissions and self-reported lung symptoms. Conclusion We conclude that though the literature is scarce and with low consistency in methods and measured biomarkers, there is evidence that jet engine emissions have physicochemical properties similar to diesel exhaust particles, and that exposure to jet engine emissions is associated with similar adverse health effects as exposure to diesel exhaust particles and other traffic emissions.
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spelling doaj.art-9c2fe06c4e56478684b7099175d82e7a2023-03-22T12:16:21ZengBMCEnvironmental Health1476-069X2021-02-0120112110.1186/s12940-020-00690-yA review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airportsKatja M. Bendtsen0Elizabeth Bengtsen1Anne T. Saber2Ulla Vogel3National Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentAbstract Background Airport personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to jet engine emissions, which similarly to diesel exhaust emissions include volatile organic compounds and particulate matter consisting of an inorganic carbon core with associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and metals. Diesel exhaust is classified as carcinogenic and the particulate fraction has in itself been linked to several adverse health effects including cancer. Method In this review, we summarize the available scientific literature covering human health effects of exposure to airport emissions, both in occupational settings and for residents living close to airports. We also report the findings from the limited scientific mechanistic studies of jet engine emissions in animal and cell models. Results Jet engine emissions contain large amounts of nano-sized particles, which are particularly prone to reach the lower airways upon inhalation. Size of particles and emission levels depend on type of aircraft, engine conditions, and fuel type, as well as on operation modes. Exposure to jet engine emissions is reported to be associated with biomarkers of exposure as well as biomarkers of effect among airport personnel, especially in ground-support functions. Proximity to running jet engines or to the airport as such for residential areas is associated with increased exposure and with increased risk of disease, increased hospital admissions and self-reported lung symptoms. Conclusion We conclude that though the literature is scarce and with low consistency in methods and measured biomarkers, there is evidence that jet engine emissions have physicochemical properties similar to diesel exhaust particles, and that exposure to jet engine emissions is associated with similar adverse health effects as exposure to diesel exhaust particles and other traffic emissions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-020-00690-yJet engine emissionsAirportsOccupational exposureParticulate matterPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsBiomarkers
spellingShingle Katja M. Bendtsen
Elizabeth Bengtsen
Anne T. Saber
Ulla Vogel
A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports
Environmental Health
Jet engine emissions
Airports
Occupational exposure
Particulate matter
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Biomarkers
title A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports
title_full A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports
title_fullStr A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports
title_full_unstemmed A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports
title_short A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports
title_sort review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports
topic Jet engine emissions
Airports
Occupational exposure
Particulate matter
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Biomarkers
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-020-00690-y
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