What is MTBE?
MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) is a synthetic chemical that is added to gasoline to improve air quality as part of the Clean Air Act (CAA). MTBE is usually added to Reformulate Gasoline (RFG), oxygenated fuel and premium grades of unleaded gasoline.
Why is MTBE in gasoline?
MTBE has been added to gasoline to improve air quality because it contains oxygen in each molecule, which makes it an oxygenate. When oxygenates are added to gasoline, they reduce the amount of carbon monoxide, which is the poisonous gas that cars produce.
Why is MTBE becoming a problem?
The problem with MTBE is that it's contaminating soil, air and drinking water, and may be causing health issues for people that are exposed to it. Since there is such a large amount of gasoline containing MTBE being produced and distributed everyday, there are many ways for MTBE to be released into the soil, air and water.
How does MTBE get into our soil, air and drinking water?
There are a variety of ways that MTBE can get into the soil, air and water. It can leak from underground storage tanks (USTs); accidental fuel spills; automobile and tanker accidents; motorized recreation on lakes and drinking water reservoirs; spills and drips when refueling automobiles, lawnmowers, tractors and other machines; and leaks from pipelines and aboveground storage tanks.
Is there any way to treat MTBE-contaminated soil, air and water?
Research is being conducted to figure out how to remove MTBE from the air, soil and water. There has been some success in cleaning up the soil, but the major problem is getting it out of the drinking water. MTBE is very mobile, less degradable and more soluble in water than other gasoline toxins, which makes it nearly impossible to remove it. The only real solution seems to be to remove all the MTBE from gasoline.
What are some of the health risks associated with MTBE?
MTBE has been known to cause cancer in laboratory animals if given a certain dosage, but there haven't been too many studies done to determine what happens when humans ingest MTBE through drinking water, or if they inhale it through the air. It is known that when a person ingests water that has been contaminated by MTBE, the person's liver will convert it into formaldehyde and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA), which a person's body has a hard time eliminating from the body. When MTBE gets into the air it is converted into tertiary butyl formate (TBF), which causes problems in a person's respiratory system.
What are the symptoms people who have been exposed to MTBE experience?
Some symptoms of MTBE exposure include a long-lasting cough, sinus problems, headaches, nervousness, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, watering eyes, irritated eyes and skin rash. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean that they're due to MTBE exposure. These symptoms are very similar to other diseases and illnesses, so you may want to consult a physician.
What is being done to fix the MTBE problem?
Many states have stopped using MTBE in their gasoline, and many bills have been to sent to Congress to have a nationwide ban of MTBE in gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has placed MTBE on its list of contaminants, but the agency is still studying the possible health affects associated with MTBE.
