Human body fetal development

As demonstrated in humans as well as in laboratory animals, the most important concern associated with exposure to 2-hexanone is neuropathy. In all species observed, this neurological effect is generally accompanied by effects on body weight. Based on the results of animal studies, other potential concerns are adverse hematological effects and effects on reproduction and fetal development. 

Data to assess the potential of JP-8 to adversely affect reproduction and development are sparse. One study (Puhala et al. 1997) reported measurements of human exposures and the values for the components of jet fuels analyzed that were far below the TWA threshold limit values (see Tabel A-2). Data on the absorption of volatile hydrocarbon components of JP-8 suggest that systemic exposure is likely, by any route of exposure. The single published developmental toxicity study (Cooper and Mattie 1996) did not report an adverse effect on embryonic or fetal development in rats with oral treatment at up to 2,000 mg/kg/d on days 6-15 of pregnancy, except for a decrease in body weight of offspring. 

A variety of in vitro toxicity tests have been developed to model the effects of toxins on living cells or tissues. In these tests, a carrier medium (such as fetal bovine serum) containing given concentrations, or doses, of a particular toxin are added to cell cultures (cell lines). Various indicators of toxicity, cell morphology transformation, or cell prohferation are then measured after specified periods of time. The cell types used in a particular study can be chosen to approximate the types of cells that would be affected during acmal exposure, such as respiratory cells or tissues. Toxicity indicators include, for example, measures of the percent of viable cells remaining at the end of the test (compared to a control line with no added toxin), and the concentrations various cytokines or other cytoplasmic enzymes induced from the cells by the toxin. Uncertainties with the in vitro toxicity tests include how comparable their results are to those of in vivo toxicity tests, and how well they reproduce actual physiological conditions and processes in the human body (Johnson and Mossman, 2001). 

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