Petroleum Products
Jet fighter on an aircraft
carrier deck
Petroleum products are chemicals made from the refinement of crude oil. These products are used in a great number of commercial industries and consumer products. Some examples of petroleum products are jet fuels, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and lubricating oils.
Many Veterans may have come in contact with petroleum products, such as engine oils, diesel, and jet fuel, during their military service. These chemicals are used by the U.S. military for a variety of reasons, including the fueling of military vehicles, generators, tent heaters and stoves, maintaining or repairing vehicles and equipment, and as accelerants in burn pit fires. Petroleum products can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or accidentally swallowed.
The following page discusses a specific petroleum product and potential Veteran exposures:
Jet Fuels
Veterans may have been exposed to fuels used to operate military vehicles.
Some service members may have been exposed to fuels, such as JP-8 and JP-5, used to operate vehicles in deployment settings.
Health effects related to jet fuel exposures may include irritation to unprotected skin, eye and upper respiratory irritation, fatigue, breathing difficulty, headaches, dizziness, and sleep disturbances. Drinking jet fuels is dangerous and may result in convulsions, coma and even death.
Scientific research on the long-term effects of exposure to jet fuels is inconclusive; however, if an individual is exposed to jet fuel at very high levels over a long period of time, lung and heart problems may develop.
- Fuels webpage
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/petroleum/index.asp
- WRIISC - Military Vehicle Exhaust Fact Sheet
- https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/education/factsheets/military-and-aircraft-vehicle-exhaust.pdf
- ATSDR - JP-5 and JP-8 FAQs
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts121.pdf
- ATSDR - JP-4 and JP-7 FAQs
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts76.pdf
- ATSDR - Automotive Gasoline FAQs
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts72.pdf
- IOM - Gulf War and Health: Fuels, Combustion Products, and Propellants (2005)
- https://www.nap.edu/read/11180/chapter/1
Get a Registry Evaluation
- Environmental Health Coordinator
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp
- Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation New Dawn (OND) Team
- https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp
Contact your local https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp, https://www.oefoif.va.gov/map.asp, or VA Primary Care Team about getting a registry evaluation.
WRIISC Link
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC)
- https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp
For evaluation for difficult-to-diagnose conditions, contact your local https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/referral/index.asp.
Camp Lejeune Health Care Law for Veterans
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/index.asp
Camp Lejeune Health Care Law: Veterans who served on active duty or resided at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between Jan. 1, 1957 and Dec. 31, 1987 may be eligible for medical care for 15 health conditions:
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Renal toxicity
- Female infertility
- Scleroderma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Hepatic steatosis
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral effects
For more information on policies related to Camp Lejeune, visit:
1957 1987 Cold War USA
Camp Lejeune Health Care Law for Family Members
- https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/index.asp
Camp Lejeune Health Care Law: Family members who resided at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between Jan. 1, 1957 and Dec. 31, 1987 may be eligible for medical care for 15 health conditions:
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Renal toxicity
- Female infertility
- Scleroderma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Hepatic steatosis
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral effects
For more information on policies related to Camp Lejeune, visit:
1957 1987 Cold War USA
Camp Lejeune Presumption
VA presumes that Veterans, Reservists, and National Guard members who served at Camp Lejeune for no less than 30 days from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987 and who later developed one of the following eight diseases were exposed to contaminants in the water supply:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Parkinson's disease
1953 1987 Cold War USA
Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
- https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/
- http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/action-plan.asp
Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry: VA's Office of Public Health has established a registry for individuals concerned about exposure to airborne hazards during recent deployments. To be eligible, you must be a Veteran or Servicemember who deployed to contingency operations in Southwest Asia at any time on or after August 2, 1990 (as defined in 38 CFR 3.317(e)(2)), or Afghanistan or Djibouti on or after September 11, 2001. These regions include the following countries, bodies of water, and the airspace above these locations:
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
- Bahrain
- Djibouti
- Gulf of Aden
- Gulf of Oman
- Oman
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Waters of the Persian Gulf, Arzabian Sea, and Red Sea
The registry consists of a web-based self-assessment to be completed by the eligible individual, which can be found at: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/action-plan.asp. Participants may also schedule an optional in-person clinical evaluation by a VA provider. Active Duty Servicemembers who would like a similar voluntary medical evaluation may contact your local military hospital or clinic and state that you would like an appointment specifically to address health concerns related to the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry exposures. Please note a medical evaluation is NOT required to be in the registry.
- For more information, visit: https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/
1990 2100 Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) Southwest Asia, South-Central Asia, Africa
