MTBE

Seabrook Water Department

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.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	ND	5	0	ND
2015	0.160 ppb	5	1	ND - 0.800 ppb
2016	ND	5	0	ND
2017	ND	5	0	ND
2018	ND	5	0	ND
2019	ND	6	0	ND

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
2014-02-11	1402-00181-001	ND
2014-05-08	1405-00260-001	ND
2014-07-29	1407-00835-001	ND
2014-08-07	1408-00253-001	ND
2014-08-07	1408-00255-001	ND
2015-01-21	1501-00978-001	ND
2015-05-07	1505-00682-001	ND
2015-08-24	1508-01935-001	ND
2015-08-31	1508-02458-001	ND
2015-08-31	1508-02455-001	0.800 ppb
2016-01-25	1601-01693-001	ND
2016-06-02	1606-00330-001	ND
2016-07-26	1607-02666-001	ND
2016-07-26	1607-02671-001	ND
2016-07-26	1607-02675-001	ND
2017-02-02	1702-00228-001	ND
2017-04-14	1704-01361-001	ND
2017-07-17	1707-01722-001	ND
2017-07-17	1707-01726-001	ND
2017-07-17	1707-01732-001	ND
2018-03-27	1803-02184-001	ND
2018-05-15	1805-01978-001	ND
2018-08-07	1808-01032-001	ND
2018-08-07	1808-01033-001	ND
2018-08-07	1808-01034-001	ND
2019-02-05	1902-00312-001	ND
2019-05-07	1905-00838-001	ND
2019-07-11	1907-01450-001	ND
2019-07-11	1907-01457-001	ND
2019-07-11	1907-01506-001	ND
2019-07-23	1907-03271-001	ND