Toxicity of methyl tertiary butyl ether to Daphnia magna and photobacterium phosphoreum

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196044· OSTI ID:103420

Gupta, G; Lin, Y J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD (United States)

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is a liquid organic compound added to gasoline to increase its oxygen content and to reduce the emission of carbon monoxide during combustion in many urban areas. In order to meet the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, gasoline must contain 2.7% oxygen (by weight) or 15% (by volume) of MTBE in gasoline to meet the regulations for the control of carbon monoxide emissions. Health effects caused by inhalation of MTBE include headaches, dizziness, irritated eyes and nausea; MTBE is one of cancer--causing chemicals. Intracaval injection of MTBE (0.2 mg/kg) caused the highest mortality (100%) in rats. General anesthetic effect induced by MTBE was found at or above 1200 mg/kg body weight; Rosenkranz and Klopman (1991) predicted that MTBE is neither a genotoxicant nor a carcinogen. Nevertheless, the safety of using MTBE in oxygenated fuels is now being questioned from its potential as groundwater pollutant. This study measures the toxicity of MTBE to Daphnia magna and Photobacterium phosphoreum. 13 refs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 103420
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 55; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BACTERIA
BUTYL ETHER
CARBON MONOXIDE
DAPHNIA
FUEL ADDITIVES
MORTALITY
RATS
TOXICITY
URBAN AREAS