Inhalation Exposure to Jet Fuel (JP8) Among U.S. Air Force Personnel

Abstract

As jet fuel is a common occupational exposure among military and civilian populations, this study was conducted to characterize jet fuel (JP8) exposure among active duty U.S. Air Force personnel. Personnel (n=24) were divided a priori into high, moderate, and low exposure groups. Questionnaires and personal air samples (breathing zone) were collected from each worker over 3 consecutive days (72 worker-days) and analyzed for total hydrocarbons (THC), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and naphthalene. Air samples were collected from inside the fuel tank and analyzed for the same analytes. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the exposure data. Our results show that the correlation of THC (a measure of overall JP8 inhalation exposure) with all other analytes was moderate to strong in the a priori high and moderate exposure groups combined. Inhalation exposure to all analytes varied significantly by self-reported JP8 exposure (THC levels higher among workers reporting JP8 exposure), a priori exposure group (THC levels in high group greater than moderate group greater than low group), and more specific job task groupings (THC levels among workers in fuel systems hangar group greater than refueling maintenance group greater than fuel systems office group greater than fuel handling group greater than clinic group), with task groupings explaining the most between-worker variability. Among highly exposed workers, statistically significant job task-related predictors of inhalation exposure to THC indicated that increased time in the hangar, working close to the fuel tank (inside greater than, less than 25 ft greater than 25 ft), primary job (entrant greater than attendant/runner/fireguard greater than outside hangar), and performing various tasks near the fuel tank, such as searching for a leak, resulted in higher JP8 exposure.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA528449

Entities

People

  • Al Ozonoff
  • Kristen W. Smith
  • Michael D. Mcclean
  • Susan P. Proctor

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Air Force Personnel
  • Aircrafts
  • Biomedical Research
  • Biostatistics
  • Chemistry
  • Demography
  • Fuel Systems
  • Fuel Tanks
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Hygiene
  • Jet Engine Fuels
  • Military Research
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Public Health

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Rocket Propulsion.