Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog
RECORD NUMBER: 6 OF 6Main Title | Risk assessment report for existing substances methyl-tertiary-butyl ether. | |||||||||||
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CORP Author | European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals. | |||||||||||
Publisher | ECETOC, | |||||||||||
Year Published | 2003 | |||||||||||
Report Number | D-2003-3001-175 | |||||||||||
OCLC Number | 55063579 | |||||||||||
ISBN | 0773634717; 9780773634718; 0773634711 | |||||||||||
Subjects | Environmental monitoring ; Risk assessment ; Methyl Ethers--toxicity ; Butylmethylether--tertiär- ; Umwelttoxizität ; Methyl tertiary butyl ether | |||||||||||
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Collation | 288 pages ; 30 cm. | |||||||||||
Notes | "December 2003." Includes bibliographical references. |
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Contents Notes | Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) has been prioritised for risk assessment under the EU "Existing Substances" Regulationa. An ECETOC Task Force was established to support the official Finnish Rapporteur in identifying relevant critical health and environmental data, and to supplement an earlier human health risk characterisation (ECETOC, 1997). This report comprises a comprehensive risk assessment in accordance with EU guidance. MTBE is produced in large tonnages and is widely used, mainly as a fuel oxygenate and octane booster in gasoline. MTBE is readily detected by analytical methods and by taste and odour due to its low organoleptic thresholds in air and water. The solubility in water is high and it is also very volatile. The available hazard data reviewed in this report indicate that, although not readily biodegradable, MTBE is inherently biodegradable. It is not dangerous to aquatic and other environmental organisms. The toxicokinetic data in experimental animals do not give any reasons for concern with regard to bioaccumulation of MTBE or its metabolites, effects on the central nervous system, genotoxicity or potential effects on reproduction. For human health, skin and respiratory irritation are regarded as the primary concern. There is insufficient evidence for MTBE to be classified as a carcinogen. Risk characterisation based on worst-case scenarios from EUSESc indicates that there is a need for more realistic emission factors to be calculated for some remaining MTBE production and gasoline blending sites. The Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PECs) for the terrestrial and aquatic environment should then be adjusted accordingly. The conclusion for the environmental risk assessment is that more information is required. For the human population, exposed via all exposure scenarios, no further information/testing on the substance is needed and no further risk reduction measures (beyond those applied already) are considered necessary. The overall conclusion for the risk assessment of MTBE is that there is a need for further information and/or testing. |