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08/16/9b PRI 16 44 kAX 91b 366 7013 KLEINFELDEK ►►► SIYICKION 1M00i Chevron Gasoline Q & A MTBE - Microsoft Internet Explorer Page 1 of 2 Chevron Gasoline Questions and Answers Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) 1 What is MTBE? MTBE, or Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether, is an ether compound in the same boiling range ' as gasoline Ethers have an oxygen atom m each molecule and a characteristic smell MTBE is made by corribuung isobutylene(from various refirung and chemical processes) and methanol (usually made from natural gas) Although made from ingthanol, MTBE does not have a significant amount of free methanol and does not have methanol properties As a comparison, water is made from hydrogen at id ui%ygon' but water is very different from either hydrogen or oxygen A similar ether, ETBE, is ' made by combining isobutylene and ethanol Like MTBE and methanol, ETBE does not have a significant amount of free ethanol and does not have ethanol properties ' 2 Why put MTBE in gasoline? MTBE has been used as a gasoline blending component since 1979 Originally, it was used to help raise the octane of gasoline Now, it is also used to raise the oxygen content of gasoline Putting oxygen in gasoline helps cars, particularly older cars, produce less carbon monoxide The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)has required gasoline to contain extra oxygen in the winter in many cities to help reduce carbon monoxide pollution, and now has required summer gasoline to contain oxygen in reformulated gasoline areas Most gasoline is oxygenated with MTBE or ethanol, although some other oxygenates like ETBE are now also being used ' 3 Is MTBE a health hazard? Gasoline is a health hazard if not handled properly Gasoline is extremely flammable, if 1 swallowed can be harmful or fatal and can enter the lungs causing damage, has harmful vapor, may cause eye and skin irritation, and long-term exposure to gasoline vapor has caused cancer in laboratory animals ALL gasoline should be handled with extreme ' caution, and exposure to gasoline liquid and vapors should be minimized Chevron is not aware of any research that p,uvts or even indicator,that gasoline ' blended with MTBE is any more dangerous or harmful than gasoline without MTBE Modern service stations are designed to dispense all gasoline quickly and safely Studies show that the typical consumer risk of suffering serious negative health effects due to ' exposure to gasoline(blended either with or without MTBE) at service stations is ,4.6ibly small 4 What should I do to protect myself against negative health effects caused by 4 44 PM Friday, August 16, 1996 E