Automotive Methanol Vapors and Human Health: An Evaluation of Existing Scientific Information and Issues for Future Research

摘要

The report evaluates the health consequences to humans that may result from inhalation of methanol vapors either emitted from methanol-fueled vehicles or during self-service refueling. EPA analyses predict that the highest exposure levels will occur in personal garages during engine hot-soak, at the self-service pump during refueling, and in public parking garages. Exposure concentrations in traffic situations will be very low. In the worst-case exposure scenario (hot-soak, personal garage), the inhaled body burden of methanol will be approximately equivalent to the preexisting background levels. The increase expected in blood formate after worst-case exposure will be negligible in comparison to the background levels of blood formate. A firm conclusion about the potential health effects from chronic exposures cannot be drawn yet. The characteristics of methanol's chronic effects are not well known. To date, no human epidemiologic studies have reported effects that could be linked to chronic methanol exposures below the threshold limit value of 260 mg/cu m. (Copyright (c) 1987 by Health Effects Institute.)