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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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MTBE

US Army Aviation and Missile Command

MTBE was used as gasoline oxygenation additive to boost the octane number. In 2005, MTBE was replaced by ethanol as a gasoline additive. MTBE causes cancers in rats.

 

11

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018N/A00N/A
20190.143 ppb31ND - 0.430 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 13 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 13 ppb for MTBE was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-06-0389906032014-1ND
2014-06-0389906032014-2ND
2015-04-1489904142015-1ND
2015-04-1489904142015-2ND
2016-04-1289904122016-2ND
2016-04-1289904122016-1ND
2017-04-11899041120171-2VND
2017-04-11899041120171-1VND
2019-04-091904017-02ND
2019-04-091904017-01ND
2019-12-031912007-010.430 ppb