Methyl tertiary butyl ether in human blood after exposure to oxygenated fuel in Fairbanks, Alaska

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1994.9954993· OSTI ID:6849197

Moolenaar, R L; Hefflin, B J; Ashley, D L; Etzel, R A ^[1]; Middaugh, J P ^[2]

---

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA (United States)
2. Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services, Anchorage, AK (United States)

Residents of Fairbanks, Alaska reported health complaints when 15%, by volume, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was added to gasoline during an oxygenated fuel program. We conducted an exposure survey to investigate the effect of the program and 28 workers in February 1993 after the program was suspended. All workers were heavily exposed to motor vehicle exhaust or gasoline fumes. In December, the median post-shift blood concentration of MTBE in the workers was 1.8 [mu]g/l (range, 0.2-37.0 [mu]g/l), and in February the median post-shift blood concentration of MTBE in the 28 workers was 0.24 [mu]g/l (range, 0.05-1.44 [mu]g/l; p = .0001). Blood MTBE levels were measurably higher during the oxygenated fuel program in Fairbanks than after the program was suspended. 14 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6849197
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 49:5; ISSN 0003-9896; ISSN AEHLAU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADDITIVES
ALASKA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
BUTYL ETHER
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ETHERS
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
GASOLINE
LIQUID FUELS
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PUBLIC HEALTH
USA
WASTES