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WATER QUALITY AT FIVE MARINAS IN LAKE TEXOMA AS RELATED TO METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER (MTBE)
Citation:
An, Y., D H. Kampbell*, AND G W. Sewell*. WATER QUALITY AT FIVE MARINAS IN LAKE TEXOMA AS RELATED TO METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER (MTBE). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 118:331-336, (2002).
Description:
Occurrence of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in five marinas was monitored between June 1999 and November 2000 in Lake Texoma located on the border of Oklahoma and Texas. MTBE is a commonly used gasoline additive and a suspected carcinogen. Lake water was collected at locations identified as entrance, gasoline filling station, and boat dock at five marinas. Occurrence of MTBE showed a direct seasonal trend with recreational boating activity at marina areas. There was a positive correlation with powerboat usage ratio, which was directly estimated by the gallons of gasoline sold. Sampling before and after the high boat use holiday weekends showed the apparent influence of powerboat activity on MTBE contamination. Boat dock locations were found to be the most sensitive site to MTBE contamination possibly due to the gasoline spillage during engine startup. The most common compound of the BTEX series, found with MTBE was toluene and co-occurrence was most frequent at gasoline filling stations.