The Long-Term Impact of Fuel Exposure (LIFE) Study: A Tri-Service Cohort of United States Veterans with Military Occupational Exposure to Jet Fuels

Elizabeth R. Heitz, Nicholas A. Tilton, Justin G. Bergeron, Gregory Wolff, Jennifer A. Rusiecki, Aaron I. Schneiderman, Warren S. Monks, Christopher Edwards, Gillon D. Marchetti and Terra D. Vincent-Hall ()
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Elizabeth R. Heitz: Exposure Science Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA
Nicholas A. Tilton: Exposure Science Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA
Justin G. Bergeron: Exposure Science Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA
Gregory Wolff: Epidemiology Consult Service, US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA
Jennifer A. Rusiecki: Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Aaron I. Schneiderman: Epidemiology Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA
Warren S. Monks: Directorate of Clinical Public Health and Epidemiology, Defense Centers for Public Health-Aberdeen, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD 21010, USA
Christopher Edwards: 711th Human Performance Wing, US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA
Gillon D. Marchetti: Military Exposure Team, Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA
Terra D. Vincent-Hall: Exposure Science Program, Health Outcomes Military Exposures, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Jet fuels are a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and performance additives, including some compounds with established human toxicity. They represent a significant occupational hazard for military personnel; however, little is known about possible long-term health effects, particularly following cessation of exposure. In response to United States (US) Veterans’ concerns, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) launched a large retrospective cohort study to assess the impact of military occupational jet fuel exposure on Veterans’ health. The Long-Term Impact of Fuel Exposure (LIFE) cohort consists of over 1.3 million Veterans who entered service on or after 1 January 1995, including both individuals with jet fuel-exposed occupations in their service history and a random sample of unexposed Veterans. Data from multiple VA and DoD administrative datasets were linked to evaluate morbidity, disability, and mortality endpoints. Analyses are underway to assess associations between jet fuel exposure and adverse health outcomes in multiple body systems. This study represents the largest effort to date to investigate these effects, with the intention of informing policies affecting Veterans for years to come.

Keywords: Veterans; military; occupational health; exposure assessment; jet fuel; aircraft fuel; health outcomes; chronic disease; long-term effects; retrospective cohort (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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