MTBE – An Insight

There are occasions when people working in a company encounters an accident. And, it is not the worker’s negligence that has led to that accident, it is the company’s negligence that may cause life threatening accident. Hence, it becomes important for the victim to file the compensation claim against the company for the lost wages, medical bills and pain and sufferings endured. But, in order to ensure you get just the right rewards from your work accident claims, solicitors at Rogers Arkansas Attorneys file the compensation claim on your behalf.

MTBE or methyl tertiary butyl ether was introduced in 1990s to help refines to meet clean air standards. It is a gasoline additive. One drawback of MTBE is that it is highly soluble in water. This means that the leakage from the underground gasoline tanks contaminates water for decades. It makes the drinking water smell and taste like turpentine. When experimented on animals it showed that it might lead to cancer. Hence, if you or someone you know has been exposed to MTBE, consulting an experienced work accident solicitor would help you get the right amount of compensation claim.

According to Environmental Protection Agency, MTBE is likely carcinogenic. It is expensive to clean MTBE exposed tanks. According to the Association of the Environment Health and Sciences, removing MTBE from all the tanks exposed to it would cost approximately between $ 1 billion to $ 3 billion.25 states have banned or limited the sale of MTBE.

A chemical compound manufactured through the chemical reaction of isobutylene and methanol forms MTBE. It is used as a fuel in gasoline motor. MTBE belongs to a group of chemicals known as “oxygenates” because they raise the oxygen content of gasoline. This chemical compound is flammable, colorless and volatile at room temperature. It dissolves easily in water.

In late 1970s, MTBE was started for the use in gasoline. It was used by oil industry as an octane booster. Oil industry added it to gasoline. In 1990, Clean Air Act stated that in order to reduce air pollution, oil companies should oxygenate gasoline. Since the act did not mentioned any specific oxygenate, oil companies kept using MTBE. They claimed that MTBE was their own refinery product and was cost effective. By the year 1992, more than 18 states were using gasoline-containing MTBE.

MTBE reduces air pollution but is harmful

MTBE moves rapidly in groundwater, is highly soluble in water and resists biodegradation. If MTBE contaminates drinking water resource, it is highly expensive, difficult and time consuming to remove it from there. Even small amount of MTBE contaminates the dinking water supply of entire community. It is because taste and odor of MTBE is like turpentine. It was only in the year 1986 that the research conducted by scientists in Maine showed that high levels of MTBE in groundwater were contaminated by gasoline with low MTBE concentrations. By 1987, oil companies were aware that groundwater was contaminated by MTBE in the places that had no gasoline components but they kept on insisting the public that MTBE is slightly soluble in water and there is no proof or evidence to show that MTBE is hazardous to human health.

Despite the fact that there was other environmentally, sound oxygenates available, oil companies continuously used MTBE because it was cheaper as compared to other oxygenates. The oil companies misleaded public for a long time that lead to the national contamination crisis. This contamination will cost around $ 29 billion to clean up the tanks. Measures should be taken to stop the contamination of MTBE because oil companies will not take responsibility of cleaning MTBE. The burden of cleaning the contaminated tanks will fall on municipalities, private well owners and water suppliers .

Diseases Caused by MTBE Exposure

Many studies have been conducted on MTBE. The studies discovered that MTBE is present in groundwater throughout the country. In some cases, this MTBE contaminated water is a source of drinking. When inhaled, MTBE may lead to serious illness with allergic symptoms, neurological, respiratory and cardiac symptoms. MTBE worsens the condition of the patient suffering from Asthma. Heart palpitations , dizziness, insomnia , attention deficit disorder , nausea , headache and anxiety are neurological symptoms. While skin rash, water or itchy eyes are allergic symptoms.

MTBE Effects on Health

Methyl tertiary butyl ether is one of the most widely used additives to oxygenate gasoline. In order to reduce carbon dioxide emission, MTBE is blended with gasoline. It has been in use since 1979.

In 1990, Clean Air Act Amendment was passed. It demanded the use of oxygenated gases in the areas with high levels of air pollution. In majority of the cases, these areas were urban meaning that the large no. of people was exposed to MTBE.  The positive effect of using MTBE blended with gasoline is that it leads to cleaner burn.

According to the Environment Protection Agency, the use of MTBE caused many concerns for the people who are exposed to it. The people are at risk by not only inhaling MTBE but also by the consumption of contaminated water. As most of the water supply pipes are located underground, the leakage from transport units or gasoline storage can contaminate drinking water supply. MTBE is easily soluble in water and thus contaminated water is found through out the country, specially in the area of high-density population. As MTBE is not biodegradable, it is difficult to separate or remove it from the water. It evaporates quickly into the air producing a vapor having unpleasant and distinct odor.

The National Center for Environmental Health recommends that people who are anxious and concerned about MTBE exposure through water or breathing should immediately contact state water drinking agency. Many times exposure is indicated by strong smell and it may or may not indicate about harmful level of MTBE. The MTBE exposure can be detected from the blood tests as well as through urine.  According to the laboratory experiment conducted on animals by CDC, MTBE is carcinogen at high level of exposure. However, no other government body has classified MTBE as human carcinogen. Reasoning for this is that it breaks down over the period of time and thus can be removed from body.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has reserved a judgement on the harmful effects of MTBE.  Many other studies have been conducted showing following symptoms after coming in contact with MTBE:

• Dizziness, “spaciness” or orientation
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Cough
• Other Respiratory Irritation
• Lightheadedness
• Eye Irritation
• Nausea
• Nose or Throat Burning

Following are the health problems that results from the dermal contact (showering, drinking or swimming) or ingestion:

• Danger to healthy development of fetus
• Incoordination to convulsions, unconsciousness, and hyperactivity
• Kidney and liver damage
• Liver and kidney cancer
• Gastrointestinal irritation

Before the use of MTBE by oil companies and before federal government suggested using MTBE more research should have been done to learn about the MTBE effect on environment. With so may side effects associated with MTBE, a victim should consider filing a compensation claim against the company. For, this he should contact an experienced solicitor who would file compensation claim on the victim’s behalf.

Work accident solicitors at Rogers Arkansas Attorneys are one of the most reputed and experienced solicitors when it comes to filing the compensation claim. With their proper guidance, filing the compensation claim becomes quite an easy task. Solicitors here are highly competent and with their working style, they ensure you get a high approval rate for the claims filed by you.