Jet Fuel Exposure in the United States Air Force

Abstract

Abstract Jet fuel vapor exposures were measured using industrial hygiene sampling techniques at three domestic U.S. Air Force installations. Breathing zone samples were collected from within three general job categories at each location: aircraft maintenance, fuel handling, and flightline positions. These samples were analyzed using gas chromatography and flame ionization detector techniques. Mean exposure concentrations for all samples collected were 0.01 ppm benzene [standard deviation (SD) = 0.01] and 1.33 ppm naphthas/jet fuels (SD = 1.95) for the aircraft maintenance positions (n = 63), 0.01 ppm benzene (SD = 0.01) and 0.61 ppm naphthas/jet fuels (SD = 0.90) for fuel handling positions (n = 16), and 0.004 ppm benzene (SD = 0.005) and 0.33 ppm naphthas/jet fuels (SD = 0.40) for flightline positions (n = 8).