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Last update - 09:58 01/04/2008
Carcinogenic materials found in 2 additional F-16I fighter jets
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: IAF, Eliezer Shkedy, F-16I 

Carcinogenic materials have been found in two additional F-16I Sufa ("Storm") fighter jets, a little over a week after IAF Commander Eliezer Shkedy ordered all F-16I jets grounded after the same material was found in the cockpit of two F-16Is.

The material was identified as formaldehyde, which has been proven to cause cancer in high levels of exposure. The IAF is currently awaiting the results of tests on an additional 10 jets and has still not determined how the material made its way into the jets.
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After the substance was first discovered, Shkedi arranged for all F-16I pilots to meet with the head of the IAF medical department, who explained to them the health ramifications of the substance.

F16I pilots have been complaining of irritations of mucous membranes and throat for three years, but recently, the complaints rose dramatically. Most of the complaints were lodged by pilots serving at an IAF base in southern Israel.

The IAF said that the earlier complaints were investigated, but nothing was ever found.

Since the discovery of the substance in the cockpit of one of the fighter jets, four pilots have been tested, but only one tested positive for exposure.

According to the officer, the substance could cause throat cancer, but stressed that the likelihood of cancer is about 1 to 100,000. "In any case, this kind of cancer could erupt up to 15 years after the initial exposure," he said.

A contingent of IAF officials is currently performing examinations of the Lockheed Martin assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas where the F-16I is built, in order to determine the source of the material.

Related articles:
  • IAF grounds all F-16I jets over carcinogenic material in cockpit
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