Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council

www.national-academies.org

Estimating the Public Health Benefits of Proposed Air Pollution Regulations (2002)

Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices (2002)

Ecological Dynamics on Yellowstone’s Northern Range (2002)

The Airliner Cabin Environment and Health of Passengers and Crew (2002)

Arsenic in Drinking Water: 2001 Update (2001)

Evaluating Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs (2001)

Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act (2001)

A Risk-Management Strategy for PCB-Contaminated Sediments (2001)

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Selected Airborne Chemicals (2 reports; 2000, 2002)

Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury (2000)

Strengthening Science at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2000)

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment (2000)

Ecological Indicators for the Nation (2000)

Modeling Mobile-Source Emissions (2000)

Waste Incineration and Public Health (1999)

Hormonally Active Agents in the Environment (1999)

Research Priorities for Airborne Particulate Matter (3 reports, 1998-2001)

Ozone-Forming Potential of Reformulated Gasoline (1999)

Arsenic in Drinking Water (1999)

The National Research Council’s Committee on Toxicology: The First 50 Years (1997)

Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens in the Human Diet (1996)

Upstream: Salmon and Society in the Pacific Northwest (1996)

Science and the Endangered Species Act (1995)

Wetlands: Characteristics and Boundaries (1995)

Biologic Markers (5 reports, 1989-1995)

Review of EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (3 reports, 1994-1995)

Science and Judgment in Risk Assessment (1994)

Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children (1993)

Dolphins and the Tuna Industry (1992)

Science and the National Parks (1992)

Human Exposure Assessment for Airborne Pollutants (1991)

Rethinking the Ozone Problem in Urban and Regional Air Pollution (1991)

Decline of the Sea Turtles (1990)

Copies of these reports may be ordered from The National Academies Press

(800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313

www.nap.edu

Review of Submarine Escape Action Levels for Selected Chemicals (2002)

Standing Operating Procedures for Developing Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Hazardous Chemicals (2001)

Evaluating Chemical and Other Agent Exposures for Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity (2001)

Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Selected Airborne Contaminants, Volume 1 (2000), Volume 2 (2002)

Review of the US Navy’s Human Health Risk Assessment of the Naval Air Facility at Atsugi, Japan (2000)

Methods for Developing Spacecraft Water Exposure Guidelines (2000)

Review of the U.S. Navy Environmental Health Center’s Health-Hazard Assessment Process (2000)

Review of the U.S. Navy's Exposure Standard for Manufactured Vitreous Fibers (2000)

Re-Evaluation of Drinking-Water Guidelines for Diisopropyl Methylphosphonate (2000)

Submarine Exposure Guidance Levels for Selected Hydrofluorocarbons: HFC-236fa, HFC-23, and HFC-404a (2000)

Review of the U.S. Army’s Health Risk Assessments for Oral Exposure to Six Chemical-Warfare Agents (1999)

Toxicity of Military Smokes and Obscurants, Volume 1(1997), Volume 2 (1999), Volume 3 (1999)

Assessment of Exposure-Response Functions for Rocket-Emission Toxicants (1998)

Toxicity of Alternatives to Chlorofluorocarbons: HFC-134a and HCFC-123 (1996)

Permissible Exposure Levels for Selected Military Fuel Vapors (1996)

Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations for Selected Airborne Contaminants, Volume 1

(1994), Volume 2 (1996), Volume 3 (1996), Volume 4 (2000)

In the 1980s, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) selected jet-propulsion fuel 8 (JP-8) as its primary fuel. JP-8 is widely used by the military not only for aircraft, but also for ground vehicles and other equipment, such as generators, cooking stoves, and tent heaters. Military personnel can be exposed to JP-8 vapors and aerosols during a number of operational scenarios, including aircraft refueling and maintenance. To protect the health of its personnel, DOD recommended an interim permissible exposure level (PEL) of 350 mg/m³.

The Air Force requested that the National Research Council (NRC) review the available toxicologic, epidemiologic, and other relevant data on JP-8 and evaluate independently the scientific basis of the DOD’s interim PEL of 350 mg/m³ for JP-8. The NRC assigned this project to the Committee on Toxicology (COT), which assembled the Subcommittee on Jet-Propulsion Fuel 8 to prepare this report.

We thank the following Air Force personnel for providing valuable background information to the subcommittee: Brian Blazicko, Roger Gibson, John Hinz, David Mattie, James McDougal, and Richard Stotts. We also wish to express our gratitude to Geraldine Grant (George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia), David Harris (University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona), Glenn Ritchie (Geo-Centers, Inc., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio), Mark Smulson (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.), Steve Ullrich (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas), Russell White (Chevron Research

and Technology Company, Richmond, California), and Mark Witten (University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona) for providing background information to the subcommittee. We also thank Stephen Channel (U.S. Air Force), Thomas Neal (U.S. Air Force), and Kenneth Still (U.S. Navy) for their support of this project.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by persons chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid, critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following for their review of this report: Edward Bishop, Parsons Engineering Sciences, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia; Judith Graham, American Chemistry Council, Arlington, Virginia; Karl Kelsey, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Carole Kimmel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.; Kannan Krishnan, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; David Lawrence, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York; Judith MacGregor, Toxicology Consulting Services, Arnold, Maryland; Ceinwen Schreiner, C & C Consulting in Toxicology, Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania; and Bailus Walker, Jr., Howard University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Although the reviewers provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the report’s conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Dean Carter, University of Arizona, Tucson, who was appointed by the NRC to ensure that an independent examination of this report was conducted in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of the report rests entirely with the subcommittee and the institution.

We are also grateful for the assistance of members of the NRC staff in the preparation of this report. The subcommittee acknowledges Abigail Mitchell, project director, and Kulbir Bakshi, program director of the Committee on Toxicology. Other staff members contributing to this report were James Reisa, director of the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology; Jessica Brock, senior project assistant; Norman Grossblatt, editor; and Kelly Clark, assistant editor.

Finally, we thank all members of the subcommittee for their expertise and dedicated effort throughout the study.

Melvin E. Andersen, PhD

Chair, Subcommittee on

Jet-Propulsion Fuel 8

Bailus Walker, Jr., PhD, MPH

Chair, Committee on Toxicology

ACGIH

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

ATSDR

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

COT

Committee on Toxicology

CNS

central nervous system

DFM

diesel fuel marine

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

DOD

U.S. Department of Defense

FOB

functional observation battery

HDS

hydrodesulfurized

IARC

International Agency for Research on Cancer

JP-8

jet-propulsion fuel 8

LDH

lactate dehydrogenase

MDF

middle distillate fraction

MMAD

mass mean aerodynamic diameter

MN

micronucleus

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NIOSH

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NOAEL

no-observed-adverse-effect level

NRC

National Research Council

NTP

National Toxicology Program

OR

odds ratio

PEL

permissible exposure level

PB-PK model

physiologically based pharmacokinetic model

RD₅₀

respiratory depression in 50% of the animals tested

REL

recommended exposure limit

SCE

sister chromatid exchange

TOMM

test of memory and motivation

TWA

time-weighted average

UDS

unscheduled DNA synthesis

USAF

U.S. Air Force

Toxicologic Assessment of Jet-Propulsion Fuel 8