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Health Effects of Exposure to MTBE

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed health values for the inhalation pathway for the Toxic Air Contaminant (TAC), methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE is a toxic air contaminant identified by the Air Resources Board in 1993 pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 39657(b).

MTBE was evaluated by OEHHA under the drinking water Public Health Goals (PHG) program. Under the PHG program, OEHHA developed a cancer slope factor for MTBE, which underwent public comment and peer review. OEHHA also evaluated MTBE for the TAC program, using the evaluations and calculations presented in the PHG document as the basis for a cancer unit risk factor for MTBE for use in air programs. The document for the TAC program, "Health Effects of Exposure to Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)", was presented for public comment, and was reviewed and approved by the Scientific Review Panel (SRP) of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Both documents are available from the download area below. A copy of the correspondence to CARB regarding action taken by the SRP at their meeting of October 6th, 1999 is also available for download below.

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