The blending of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline in the United States bhas increased markedly since its first use int he late 1970's.Approximately 350 billion liters (2.2 billion barrels,92 billion gallons) of MTBE were produced in 1997 and MTBE has become one of the largest-volume organic chemicals produced in the United States.The large-scale use of MTBE-containing gasoline inadvertently has resulted in its introduction to some surface and ground waters.MTBE is of concern to drinkign-water utilities because of its low taste and odor threshold and possible human-health effects.the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has issued a drinkign-water advisory for MTBE of 20 to 40 micrograms per liter (#um#g/L).The release of MTBE-containing gasoline from storage tanks,pipelines,and other point sources has caused the concentration of MTBE in some ground water to exceed the USEPA advisory.Furthermore,such MTBE contamination has resulted in the abandonment of soem domestic and community water supply wells,or necessitated the treatment of ground water prior to use for drinkign purposes.
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