Common myths and misconceptions about the behavior and impact of MTBE released from petroleum products

摘要

Auto fuel regulatory-mandates, to decrease the aromatic content of fuels and to reduce exhaust emissions, have led to the expanded use of additives to oxygenate auto fuels in the European Union (EU) and United States (US). The economical ether oxygenates, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) or ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) are frequently the oxygenate of choice because they deliver oxygen without increasing the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) or altering the fungible characteristics of autofuel. However, transport of auto fuels by common carriers that also transport heating oil and other heavier petroleum products has lead to the discovery of trace concentrations of auto fuel in many petroleum products. Subsequent leaks and spills during storage and handling of petroleum products result in the release of Auto fuel constituents to the environment. Critical review of 12 myths and misconceptions about MTBE in auto fuels reveals the concepts were conceived to rationalize early field observations and/or incomplete data sets. Closer scrutiny, in light of recent laboratory investigations, field data, case studies and world literature, indicates the myths are unsubstantiated misconceptions and assumptions about the behavior of ether oxygenates in the environment. Commonly held myths focus on four general areas of fuel and fuel oxygenates management: storage/dispensing, hydrology, remediation, and health effects. Storage/dispensing misconceptions address materials stability to ethers in fuel and the environmental forensics of fuel systems failure. Groundwater and hydrology myths deal with plume dynamics and the impact of fuel on drinking water resources. Remediation myths focus on the performance of traditional hydrocarbon remediation technologies, recent developments in biodegradation and natural attenuation, drivers of remedial design and remediation costs. Health effects myths address both acute and chronic exposure risk evaluations by national and international health agencies. MTBE is manageable by the same processes and precautions used for gasoline and other fuel hydrocarbons.