Aviation fuels - information sheet

Distillates (petroleum), sweetened middle
CAS Registry Number 64741-86-2

Naphtha (petroleum), sweetened
CAS Registry Number 64741-87-3

Naphtha (petroleum), full-range alkylate butane-containing
CAS Registry Number 68527-27-5

Updated March 6, 2019:

The Final Screening Assessment for Aviation Fuels was published in April 2014 under the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). The assessment is summarized in this information sheet (formerly public summary) and has not changed. The section in this information sheet entitled "Related information" communicates updates on these substances, namely:

The Government of Canada conducted a science-based evaluation, called a screening assessment, of 3 aviation fuels, to address the potential for harm to Canadians and to the environment.
Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), the risk posed by a substance is determined by considering both its hazardous properties (its potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount of exposure there is to people and the environment. A substance may have hazardous properties; however, the risk to human health or to the environment may be low depending upon the level of exposure.
- More information on assessing risk can be found in the Overview of Risk Assessment and related fact sheets, particularly on Types of Risk Assessment Documents and the Risk Assessment Toolbox.
These substances are associated with human health and ecological effects; however, as a result of the screening assessment, the Government concluded that they are not harmful to human health or to the environment, at levels of exposure at the time of the assessment.

The screening assessment focuses on 3 substances referred to collectively under the CMP as aviation fuels in the Petroleum Sector Stream Approach (Stream 3).
Aviation fuels are complex combinations of petroleum hydrocarbons that fall under two major categories: aviation turbine fuel (CAS RN 64741-86-2) and aviation gasoline fuels (CAS RNs 64741-87-3 and 68527-27-5).
Their compositions vary depending on the source of crude oil or bitumen feedstock and how they are processed.
According to information gathered by the Government, these substances are primarily used as a fuel source for aircraft. They may also be used as blending components within refineries to make other products.

Exposure of Canadians to aviation fuels is expected to be limited to the inhalation of vapours in the vicinity of airports and fuel storage facilities.
Aviation fuels have the potential to be released to the environment through spills to soil and/or water from storage, loading, transport and unloading operations involving these aviation fuels.

Potential carcinogenicity (ability to cause cancer) was considered to be the important or "critical" effect for these substances, used for characterizing the risk to human health in the assessment.
These substances are also considered to have ecological effects of concern, based upon their potential to harm both aquatic and terrestrial organisms.

Based upon a comparison of levels to which Canadians may be exposed to these substances and levels associated with health effects, it was determined that the risk to human health from aviation fuels is low.
Based upon information presented in the screening assessment, it was also determined that there is low risk of harm to the environment from these substances.
The Government published the Final Screening Assessment for Aviation Fuels on April 12, 2014.

As a result of the screening assessment, the Government concluded that these 3 substances are not harmful to human health, at levels of exposure at the time of the assessment.
The Government also concluded that these substances are not entering the environment at levels that are harmful to the environment at the time of the assessment.

These substances were not considered to be harmful to human health or the environment at levels of exposure at the time of the assessment; however the emergency hazards of these substances were assessed by the Environmental Emergencies Program.
On October 8, 2016, the Government proposed to add these 3 substances to the Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2016, based on the findings that the substances pose acute hazards to the environment or to human life and health, if an environmental emergency occurs. The proposed regulations would also allow emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery requirements to be put in place for these substances.
Canadians who may be exposed to these substances in the workplace should consult with their employer and an occupational health and safety (OHS) representative about safe handling practices, applicable laws, and requirements under OHS legislation and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).