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OVERVIEW OF EPA HUMAN EXPOSURE MEASUREMENTS PROJECTS AS APPLIED TO JP-8 JET FUEL
Citation:
Pleil, J D. AND L. Smith. OVERVIEW OF EPA HUMAN EXPOSURE MEASUREMENTS PROJECTS AS APPLIED TO JP-8 JET FUEL. Presented at Toxicology of JP-8 Jet Fuel Conference, Tucson, AZ, January 10-12, 2000.
Description:
One of the many responsibilities of the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the development and demonstration of methodology for assessing human exposure to environmental pollutants. As such, personnel from the Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences &vision (HEASD)of NERL/ EPA have been collaborating with the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General's staff in a series of laboratory and field activities to develop real-world data for an eventual risk assessment of military activity involving the chemical exposure to JP-8 jet fuel and its combustion byproducts. The primary focus has been the measurement of ambient vapor inhalation exposure and dermal contact exposure of fuel systems maintenance personnel through the use of whole-air sampling and exhaled breath analysis. Similar measurements focusing on vapors from engine exhaust exposure to ground crew personnel during pre-flight engine run-ups have also been performed. An article describing the results from a series of field studies has been accepted for publication (Environmental Health Perspectives, Feb. 2000). An ancillary project has been initiated to address the potential health concerns from particle bound poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from aircraft exhaust; we are developing the capability for real-time measurement of total PAH to allow intelligent decision making for the use of respiratory protection equipment. An article concerning this project has been written and is currently under review. Finally, we are developing specific methodology for the exposure and dose assessment of JP-8 jet fuel constituents as found in human blood. We have published one article concerning methods development for blood in the Journal of Chromatography B, March 1999, and have a second article under review at Analytical Toxicology. The ambient, breath, and blood measurement methods will be part of the upcoming US Air Force epidemiological study on JP-8 jet fuel exposure.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and has been subjected to EPA review and approved for publication.