IRIS

Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE)

CASRN 637-92-3 | DTXSID0025604

IRIS Toxicological Review of Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE) (Public Comment Draft, 2016)

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Overview

In September 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) released the draft Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE). Consistent with the 2013 IRIS Enhancements, draft IRIS assessments are released prior to external peer review for a 60-day public comment period and discussed at an upcoming public science meeting. Accordingly, the toxicological review, supplementary information, and other materials pertaining to this draft assessment are posted on this site.

Citation

U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE) (Public Comment Draft, 2016). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-16/184, 2016.

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Background

ETBE is used as a fuel additive for gasoline to increase octane rating and has been used to meet air pollution reduction goals in the U.S. under the Clean Air Act. The use of ether oxygenates such as ETBE in reformulated gasoline in the U.S. was effectively eliminated in 2006; however, use and production of these oxygenates has continued in Europe and Asia for the purpose of increasing octane rating in gasoline. ETBE may be used as a substitute to replace the volume and oxygenate properties of methyl tertiary butyl ether, an oxygenate widely used in the U.S. prior to 2006. The main source of exposure to ETBE in the U.S. is from exposure to contaminated groundwater due to leaking underground storage tanks.

History/Chronology


Status

Following public comment and external peer review, the assessment will be revised taking into consideration peer review and public comments. The assessment will then undergo a final EPA internal review and a review by other federal agencies and the Executive Office of the President. Once final, the assessment will be posted to the IRIS database.

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Download(s)

This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.

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Federal Register Notices


Docket

Comments on the assessment may be submitted and reviewed using the Docket ID EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0229

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