API PUBL 4622-1995

$20.15

Petroleum Industry Data Characterizing Occupational Exposures to Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) 1983-1993

Published By	Publication Date	Number of Pages
API	1995	101

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Description

The compound methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is an oxygenate which is added to gasoline during the winter driving season to reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from motor vehicles and is frequently used in reformulated gasoline. In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began receiving anecdotal heath-related complaints following alleged exposures to MTBE. In early 1993, EPA began planning a series of clinical research studies to investigate the validity of these claims. As part of its response, the American Petroleum Institute (API) conducted a survey of API member companies to acquire data relating to occupational exposures to MTBE. This report describes the development and administration of this survey. It also provides a summary of the data obtained from the completed questionnaires.

The survey questionnaires were distributed to industrial hygienists at 17 API member companies who provided 1,833 MTBE concentration measurements associated with potential occupational exposures. The results were consistent with expectations. The highest exposure measurements were associated with process spills and upsets, whereas lower exposure measurements were associated with routine operations. Finally, exposures during activities associated with blending and distribution were lower than exposures during activities associated with transportation (barge, pipeline rail car) and refueling.

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