F-111 Fuel Tank Maintenance website - Information for F-111 fuel tank workers and their families

Studies

The SHOAMP

In 2001 the Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP) was commissioned as a response to the Board of Inquiry.  The University of Newcastle’s  SHOAMP study* examined members of the four formal deseal/reseal programs, and two comparison groups.  The study reported its findings in 2004. 

The study found that the incidence of cancer in the F-111 DSRS group, was “higher than expected” with an increase of around 40-50% incidence, relative to both the Amberley and Richmond comparison groups. 

While it found this cancer incidence in the deseal/ reseal group to be “not statistically significant”, it also found that deseal/reseal workers reported nearly twice the number of poor health symptoms than comparison groups, and significantly poorer quality of life on both physical and mental component scores. 

While not attributing causality, the study found that:

“the results point to an association between F-111 DS/RS involvement and a lower quality of life, greater incidences of: erectile dysfunction, depression, anxiety and subjective memory impairment.  There is also evidence, albeit less compelling, of an association between DSRS and dermatitis, obstructive lung disease (ie. bronchitis and emphysema), and neuropsychological deficits.”

* Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP)

F-111 strike aircraft - fuel tank locations

Diagram of F-111 fuel tank locations

15 December 2010 Serum Management Committee

The Serum Management Committee oversees the storage and management blood serum samples collected as part of the 2004 Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP). Advice from the Serum Management Committee (PDF 61 KB) (RTF 40 KB), in respect of the management of, long term storage of, and access to, the blood samples collected as part of the SHOAMP is now available.

SR51 CHALUS study

In 2005 the Department of Veterans’ Affairs commissioned a study into the desealant chemical SR51.  This study was undertaken by the Chemical Hazard Assessment Laboratory,  University of Sydney (CHALUS).  The study found that SR51 was unlikely to be mutagenic (ie it did not cause DNA damage), but that it did have the potential to produce mitochondrial damage. 

The study also found that toxicity increased with increased temperature and produced greater damage when heated.  The study found that SR51 produced a very strong smell, and that this smell is detectable at levels over 1,000 times below the levels that are thought safe. 

The study noted that “SR51 and its major solvent components produce toxic effects on the mitochondrial particles used in this test”. The university conducted tests in vitro (in their laboratory) and noted that, “It is not known whether similar results of toxicity would result for living mammals”.  The SR51 study concluded that SR51 was “unlikely”’ to cause cancer.  (Page 28 of the Parliamentary Inquiry" refers).

Mitochondria in Fuel and Solvent Exposed Ex-Air Force Personnel

In 2004 Professor Frank Bowling was commissioned by the Chief of Air Force to conduct a pilot study into the possible effects on the mitochondria of personnel who were exposed to chemicals involved in the F-111 deseal/reseal programs.  The purpose of Professor Bowling’s work was to “identify abnormalities of mitochondria in exposed individuals, both to understand the nature of cell injury following exposure, and to identify a possible marker of cell injury.”

The pilot study found:

  • “changes in mitochondrial proteins in peripheral blood samples in individuals exposed to fuel solvents…;
  • data suggest involvement of immature blood cells (stem cells) in the protein changes seen following fuel exposure….the mitochondrial changes seen in these pilot studies are an indication of disruption of stem cells in the bone marrow, and possibly in other tissues”.

(Page 28 of the Parliamentary Inquiry refers)

The results of the pilot study are being examined by the Defence Centre for Occupational Health who are scoping the next stage of this important research.

Coxon - Psychological effects on spouses study

In 2006 Dr Leonie Coxon from Murdoch University carried out a study on the psychological effects on spouses of deseal/reseal workers was completed.  This study found that spouses of deseal/reseal workers were more likely to have somatic complaints, anxiety, depression and higher levels of stress.  These findings indicated that “there are significant deleterious effects on the psychological functioning of spouses of individuals involved in the F-111 deseal/reseal programs as a result of the program itself.” (Page 33 of the Parliamentary Inquiry refers)

Danek Report

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation’s Mr Stefan Danek was commissioned by the 2001 BOI, to summarise the BOI’s volumes of scientific reports from various experts.  These included a toxicological assessment of deseal-reseal chemicals; the resistance of personal protective equipment, such as gloves and overalls, to various selected chemicals; the monitoring of airborne contaminants during specific processes associated with the deseal-reseal programs; and, the modelling of potential exposure or potential airborne contaminants of these same chemicals. The subsequent summary is known as the Danek Report.  (Page 34 of the Parliamentary Inquiry refers)

Third Study of Mortality and Cancer Incidence

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released the Third Study of Mortality and Cancer Incidence in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel: A Continuing Study of F-111 Deseal/Reseal Personnel (2009). The first and second studies were made as part of the SHOAMP study. Comparisons were made with the general Australian male population, as well as groups from RAAF Base Amberley and RAAF Base Richmond.

 The AIHW study made several findings. Among them:

  • Overall cancer incidence in male personnel who were involved in DSRS programs was elevated by 44%, when compared with the Australian male population.  However the very small number of people involved means that this result is not statistically significant.
  • Lip cancer incidence in DSRS personnel was four times as high as in the general Australian male population. This result is statistically significant, but is based on only four cases.
  • Overall mortality for the two comparison groups was lower than that that found in the Australian male population; these results are statistically significant. Cancer incidence in personnel in the two comparison groups (RAAF Base Richmond in New South Wales and RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland) was similar to that of the Australian male population.
  • Comparing the exposed groups (the DSRS personnel) with Amberley personnel showed no significant differences in mortality or cancer incidence.
  • Comparing the exposed groups (the DSRS personnel) with Richmond personnel showed increased cancer incidence which is statistically significant.

Third Study of Mortality and Cancer Incidence in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (PDF 1.32 mb)