Source Apportionment of Airborne Dioxins, Furans, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at a United States Forward Operating Air Base During the Iraq War

Abstract

Objectives The objective was to apportion the sources of the ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran concentrations measured at Joint Base Balad in Iraq. Methods Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was applied to the data to obtain the chemical profiles and contribution time series of the PAHs, PCDDs, and PCDFs. Conditional probability function (CPF) analyses were performed to assess the source directionality relative to the monitoring sites. Results Three source types were identified and apportioned. The sources were: the burn pit, diesel vehicles and generators, and aircraft emissions. The CPF plots were consistent with the assigned source types. Conclusions The PCDDs and PCDFs originated primarily from the burn pit. Higher molecular weight PAHs were associated with vehicle emissions while the aircraft emissions were enriched in low molecular weight PAHs.

Iraq/Afghanistan war lung injury reflects burn pits exposure

“…JP-8, jet fuel, is often used as ignition for these burn pits (or garbage fires) despite containing benzene (a carcinogen) that is released along with small particulate matter (PM) from products of incomplete combustion 9 , 10 . Materials burned included chemicals, paints, medical and human waste, computers/electronics, plastic water bottles, munitions, and vehicles 11 , 12 . The resulting generated byproducts included: small particulate matter (PM), n-hexane, dioxins, sulfur dioxide, furans, and heavy metals (known byproducts released from the combustion of plastics) 13 , benzene (from JP-8 jet fuel), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH which are products of incomplete combustion and are carcinogenic) 9 , 14 , 15 , and burned metals (pro-fibrotic) 11 , 16 , 17 .…”

“…Materials burned included chemicals, paints, medical and human waste, computers/electronics, plastic water bottles, munitions, and vehicles 11 , 12 . The resulting generated byproducts included: small particulate matter (PM), n-hexane, dioxins, sulfur dioxide, furans, and heavy metals (known byproducts released from the combustion of plastics) 13 , benzene (from JP-8 jet fuel), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH which are products of incomplete combustion and are carcinogenic) 9 , 14 , 15 , and burned metals (pro-fibrotic) 11 , 16 , 17 . Burn pit emissions/plume inhaled with air-suspended sand and dust can induce lung injury in mice 16 , 18 .…”

Occupational Exposures and Environmental Health Hazards of Military Personnel

“…Masiol et al [ 75 , 76 ] analyzed PAH, PCDD, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) concentrations at different sites in the Iraqi Joint Base Balad (JBB) in 2007, in an attempt to clarify the sources of these pollutants. A high correlation between PCDDs/PCDFs dispersion and BP plumes emerged, indicating waste combustion as a primary source for these compounds.…”

PIP-Seq identifies novel heterogeneous lung innate lymphocyte population activation after combustion product exposure

“…Burn pits emit airborne toxins during the combustion of debris and leftover material that includes plastics, ordinance, paints, fuel, and oil and are associated with significant health consequences in military personnel and Veterans [12][13][14] . New-onset and worsening of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are specifically associated with burn pit exposures [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] . There is limited data regarding which burn pit components may induce aberrant airway immune responses, but likely candidates include fine particulate matter (PM), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and dioxins 14,20 .…”