jp-8 jet fuel ( similar to commercial / international jet a-1 fuel ) is the standard military fuel for all types of vehicles , including the u.s . air force aircraft inventory . as such 
 , jp-8 presents the most common chemical exposure in the air force , particularly for flight and ground crew personnel during preflight operations and for maintenance personnel performing routine tasks . 
 personal exposure at an air force base occurs through occupational exposure for personnel involved with fuel and aircraft handling and/or through incidental exposure , primarily through inhalation of ambient fuel vapors . 
 because jp-8 is less volatile than its predecessor fuel ( jp-4 ) , contact with liquid fuel on skin and clothing may result in prolonged exposure . 
 the slowly evaporating jp-8 fuel tends to linger on exposed personnel during their interaction with their previously unexposed colleagues . to begin to assess the relative exposures 
 , we made ambient air measurements and used recently developed methods for collecting exhaled breath in special containers . 
 we then analyzed for certain volatile marker compounds for jp-8 , as well as for some aromatic hydrocarbons ( especially benzene ) that are related to long - term health risks . 
 ambient samples were collected by using compact , battery - operated , personal whole - air samplers that have recently been developed as commercial products ; breath samples were collected using our single - breath canister method that uses 1-l canisters fitted with valves and small disposable breathing tubes . 
 we collected breath samples from various groups of air force personnel and found a demonstrable jp-8 exposure for all subjects , ranging from slight elevations as compared to a control cohort to > 100 [ mutilpe ] the control values . 
 this work suggests that further studies should be performed on specific issues to obtain pertinent exposure data . 
 the data can be applied to assessments of health outcomes and to recommendations for changes in the use of personal protective equipment that optimize risk reduction without undue impact on a mission.imagesfigure 1figure 2figure 3figure 4figure 5figure 6