skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: MTBE: The headache of cleaner air

Abstract

Gasoline with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been sold in the United States since 1979, when it was added to fuels as an octane enhancer after lead was phased out of motor fuels. Recently it has been introduced as a means of reducing carbon monoxide emissions during the winter months in targeted US cities. However, there is concern over health complaints including headaches, dizziness and nausea from residents of some areas. These reports have launched an era of assidious research by scientists and public health officials across the country to learn more about MTBE`s short-term and long-term, and possibly carcinogenic, health effects. New research should help weigh the risk of MTBE as a possible carcinogen and the effectiveness of MTBE-blended fuels in reducing carbon monoxide levels. The question is whether, in minimizing one risk, is another risk - however small - being introduced?

Authors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
161653
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Health Perspectives
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 103; Journal Issue: 7-8; Other Information: PBD: Jul-Aug 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 02 PETROLEUM; BUTYL ETHER; CARCINOGENESIS; RISK ASSESSMENT; CARBON MONOXIDE; AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT; GASOLINE; ADDITIVES; HEALTH HAZARDS

Citation Formats

Kneiss, J. MTBE: The headache of cleaner air. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Kneiss, J. MTBE: The headache of cleaner air. United States.
Kneiss, J. 1995. "MTBE: The headache of cleaner air". United States.
@article{osti_161653,
title = {MTBE: The headache of cleaner air},
author = {Kneiss, J},
abstractNote = {Gasoline with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been sold in the United States since 1979, when it was added to fuels as an octane enhancer after lead was phased out of motor fuels. Recently it has been introduced as a means of reducing carbon monoxide emissions during the winter months in targeted US cities. However, there is concern over health complaints including headaches, dizziness and nausea from residents of some areas. These reports have launched an era of assidious research by scientists and public health officials across the country to learn more about MTBE`s short-term and long-term, and possibly carcinogenic, health effects. New research should help weigh the risk of MTBE as a possible carcinogen and the effectiveness of MTBE-blended fuels in reducing carbon monoxide levels. The question is whether, in minimizing one risk, is another risk - however small - being introduced?},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/161653}, journal = {Environmental Health Perspectives},
number = 7-8,
volume = 103,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}