Ijeli yekhebula ingxube eqinile yekhemikhali ye-hydrocarbon eqinile, engaqinile kanye ne-liquid. Ijeli yekhebula ayinakho ukungcola, inephunga elingathathi hlangothi futhi ayinawo umswakama.
Ngokuhamba kwezintambo zepulasitiki zokuxhumana ngocingo, abantu bayaqaphela ukuthi ngenxa yepulasitiki inomswakama othile wokungena, okuholela ekutheni ikhebula libe nezinkinga ngokwemibandela yamanzi, ngokuvamile okubangelwa umgogodla wekhebula ukungena kwamanzi, umthelela wokuxhumana, ukuphazamiseka ukukhiqiza kanye nempilo.