1、American Petroleum Institute Anecdotal Health-Related Complaint Data Pertaining to Possible Exposures to Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE): 1993 and 1994 Follow-up Surveys (1984-1994) Health and Environmental Sciences Department Publication Number 4623 August 1995 API PUBL*4623 95 - 0732290 0550380
2、 07T One of the most significant long-term trends affecting the future vitality of the petroleum industry is the publics concerns about the environment. Recognizing this trend, API member companies have developed a positive, forward-looking strategy called STEP: Strategies for Todays Environmental P
3、artnership. This program aims to address public concerns by improving our industiys environmental, health and safety performance: documenting performance improvements; and communicating them to the public. The foundation of STEP is the API Environmental Mission and Guiding Environmental Principles.
4、API ENVIRONMENTAL MISSION AND GUIDING ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES The members of the American Petroleum Institute are dedicated to continuous efforts to improve the compatibility of our operations with the environment while economically developing energy resources and supplying high quality products an
5、d services to consumers. The members recognize the importance of efficiently meeting societys needs and our responsibility to work with the public, the government, and others to develop and to use natural resources in an environmentally sound manner while protecting the health and safety of our empl
6、oyees and the public. To meet these responsibilities, API members pledge to manage our businesses according to these principles: o o 9 o o *:* o 9 o o o To recognize and to respond to community concerns about our raw materials, products and operations. To operate our plants and facilities, and to ha
7、ndle our raw materials and products in a manner that protects the environment, and the safety and health of our employees and the public. To make safety, health and environmental considerations a priority in our planning, and our development of new products and processes. To advise promptly, appropr
8、iate officials, employees, customers and the public of information on significant industry-related safety, health and environmental hazards, and to recommend protective measures. To counsel customers, transporters and others in the safe use, transportation and disposal of our raw materials, products
9、 and waste materials. To economically develop and produce natural resources and to conserve those resources by using energy efficiently. To extend knowledge by conducting or supporting research on the safety, health and environmental effects of our raw materials, products, processes and waste materi
10、als. To commit to reduce overall emission and waste generation. To work with others to resolve problems created by handling and disposal of hazardous substances from our operations. To participate with government and others in creating responsible laws, regulations and standards to safeguard the com
11、munity, workplace and environment. To promote these principles and practices by sharing experiences and offering assistance to others who produce, handle, use, transport or dispose of similar raw materials, petroleum products and wastes. API PUBL*4623 95 0 O732290 05503BL Tob W Anecdotal Health-Rela
12、ted Complaint Data Pertaining to Possible Exposures to Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE): 1993 and 1994 Follow-up Surveys (1 984-1 994) Health and Environmental Sciences Department API PUBLICATION NUMBER 4623 PREPARED UNDER CONTRACT BY: MICHAEL MCCOY, JR., JOAN ABERNETHY AND TED JOHNSON IT CORPORAT
13、ION 371 O UNIVERSITY DRIVE, SUITE 201 DURHAM, NC 27707 AUGUST 1995 American Petroleum Institute API PUBL*4623 95 0732290 0550382 942 FOREWORD API PUBLICATIONS NECESSARILY ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF A GENERAL NATURE. WITH RESPECT TO PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS SH
14、OULD BE REVIEWED. API IS NOT UNDERTAKING TO MEET THE DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS, MANUFAC- TURERS, OR SUPPLIERS TO WARN AND PROPERLY TRAIN AND EQUIP THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND OTHERS EXPOSED, CONCERNING HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS AND PRECAUTIONS, NOR UNDERTAKING THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LAWS.
15、 NOTHING CONTAINED IN ANY API PUBLICATION IS TO BE CONSTRUED AS GRANTING ANY RIGHT, BY IMPLICATION OR OTHERWISE, FOR THE MANU- FACTURE, SALE, OR USE OF ANY METHOD, AFPARAWS, OR PRODUCT COV- ERED BY LETTERS PATENT. NEITHER SHOULD ANYTHING CONTAINED IN ITY FOR INFRINGEMENT OF LETERS PATENT. THE PUBLIC
16、ATION BE CONSTRUED AS INSURING ANYONE AGAINST LIABIL- Copyright O 1995 American Petroleum Institute II API PUBLx4b23 95 I O732290 0550383 889 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS OF TIME AND EXPERTISE DURING THIS STUDY AND IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT: API
17、 STAFF CONTACT Will Ollison, Health and Environmental Sciences Department API COMPANY MEMBERS Paul Bucknam, Amerada Hess Corporation Richard Bui, Sun Company, Inc. Charles Clark, Unocal Corporation Carol Fairbrother, Exxon Company, USA Jack Hinton, Texaco Inc. Jim Jackson, Mobil Oil Corporation Ramo
18、na Panson, Sun Company, Inc. Carolyn Phillips, Shell Oil Company Gerhard Raabe, Mobil Oil Corporation James Richey, ARCO Roy Rigney, BP America Randy Roth, ARCO John Sepesi, Shell Oil Company Alfred Talbot, Sun Company, Inc. Eric Vogt, Texaco, Inc. Michael Wells, Amoco Corporation James White, ARCO
19、iii API PUBL+4623 95 m 0732290 0550384 715 m ABSTRACT The oxygenate methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is frequently added to gasoline during the winter driving season to reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from motor vehicles and is frequently used in reformulated gasoline. In 1992, the U.S. Envi
20、ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) began receiving anecdotal heath-related complaints allegedly associated with exposures to MTBE. In early 1993, EPA began planning a series of clinical research studies to investigate the validity of these claims. As part of its response, the American Petroleum Insti
21、tute (API) promptly conducted an informal survey of API member companies to acquire their anecdotal complaint data relating to MTBE. A second survey was conducted in 1994. State petroleum council staff were also asked to poll state agencies for complaints received by state government. This report de
22、scribes the development and administration of these surveys and provides a summary of their data. The original and follow-up member company survey questionnaires were sent to industrial hygienists at 18 API member companies. Health-related MTBE complaint data allegedly associated with 71 occupationa
23、l and 13 non-occupational MTBE exposures was compiled. Symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and respiratory tract irritation are relatively common in the reported data. These symptoms are consistent with those complaints previously received by EPA. Additional symptoms, such as vomiting, fa
24、inting and diarrhea, were rarely reported. The relationship between these symptoms and MTBE exposure is unclear. TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1. INTRODUCTION 1-1 2. QUESTIONNAIRE DISTRIBUTION AND FOLLOW-UP . 2-1 3. COMPLAINT SURVEY DATABASE DEVELOPMENT 3-1 4. COMPLAINT SURVEY DATA ANALYSES AND DIS
25、CUSSION . 4-1 5. REFERENCES . 5-1 Appendix A 1993 MTBE COMPLAINT SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE . A-I Appendix B 1994 FOLLOW-UP MTBE COMPLAINT SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE . B-I Appendix C FREQUENCY ANALYSES C-I Appendix D MTBE STATE QUESTIONNAIRE AND COMPLAINT SURVEY D-I Appendix E PRESENTATION OF PRELIMINARY MTBE C
26、OMPLAINT FINDINGS TO EPA CONFERENCE ON MTBE AND OTHER OXYGENATES: A RESEARCH UPDATE, JULY 26-28, 1993, FALLS CHURCH, VA . E-I API PUBL*4623 95 0732270 0550386 598 LIST OF FIGURES Fiqure Pane 4- 1 MTBE Health Complaints by Month Reported by API Member Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27、 . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 4-2 MTBE Health Complaints by Year Reported by API Member Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 4-3 Occupational Complaints by Month (January 1992 - April 1994) . . . 4-9 4-4 MTBE Health Complaints by State Reported by API Member Compa
28、nies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 O Table 3- 1 4- 1 4-2 4-3 LIST OF TABLES Paae Data Items in the MTBE Complaint Survey Database . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 Updated MTBE Complaint Survey Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2 October 1992
29、Through April 1993 Oxygenated Fuel Season Only . . 4-4 October i993 Through April 1994 Oxygenated Fuel Season Only . . 4-5 API PUBL*4623 95 II 0732290 0550387 424 II Section 1 INTRODUCTION The oxygenate methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is frequently added to gasoline during the winter driving seas
30、on to reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from motor vehicles and is frequently used in reformulated gasoline. In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began receiving anecdotal complaints of headaches, nausea, dizziness, and other symptoms allegedly associated with exposure to MTBE
31、. In early 1993, EPA began planning a series of clinical research studies to investigate the validity of these claims. As part of its response, the American Petroleum Institute (API) promptly conducted four surveys to acquire data relating to measured exposures to MTBE and to investigate anecdotal h
32、ealth-related complaints. 8 The Occupational Exposure Survey: a survey of member companies to obtain The Company Complaint Survey: a survey of 18 member companies to obtain their data on measured occupational MTBE exposures. data on health-related complaints related to MTBE they had received prior t
33、o May 1993. Company Complaint Follow-up Survey: During the 1993-94 oxygenated fuel season, API conducted a survey of the same 18 companies to acquire the most recent data relating to health-related complaints allegedly related to MTBE exposures (through April 30, 1994, the close of the winter oxygen
34、ate program season). a The State Complaint Survey: a survey of API state petroleum council directors and the officers of allied oil and gas associations to obtain data on any health- related complaints associated with possible exposures to MTBE they learned about from their respective states. 1-1 AP
35、I PUBLX4623 95 = 0732270 0550388 360 This introduction provides a brief description of each of the surveys. The remainder of the report provides more detailed descriptions of the complaint surveys. The procedures and results of the Exposure Survey have been described in detail in API Publication 462
36、2. During the Occupational Exposure Survey, IT Air Quality Services (ITAQS) sent a questionnaire to 17 API member companies. The survey produced a database listing over 1,800 separate exposure events. Each event was characterized by MTBE concentration, facility type and location, employee occupation
37、, sample type (personnel or area), MTBE source, measurement location, exposure duration, and control equipment present. All data collected by the Exposure Survey related to employee exposures. None of the data related to specific complaints collected by the two company complaint surveys described be
38、low. During the 1993 Company Complaint Survey, ITAQS sent a questionnaire requesting complaint data to industrial hygienists at 18 API member companies. Each respondent was asked to describe all complaints related to possible MTBE exposure which the company received between January I, 1988 and April
39、 30, 1993 (the close of the 1992-93 oxygenate season). Respondents were not asked to evaluate the reported complaints. During the State Comdaint Survey, API sent a questionnaire to 10 API state directors and to I I state officers of allied oil and gas associations requesting that they seek data from
40、 their respective state governments on MTBE complaints. Appendix D of this report provides an overview of this survey and a copy of the survey questionnaire. Two survey respondents indicated that their states did not have oxygenated fuels programs. Three respondents stated that no MTBE-related compl
41、aints had been received. The responses of the remaining questionnaire recipients are summarized in Appendix D. 1-2 API PUBL+4623 95 W 0732290 0550389 2T7 M In the 1994 follow-up Company Complaint Survev, ITAQS sent a second questionnaire to the same 18 API member companies who received the original
42、questionnaire. Each respondent was asked to describe complaints allegedly related to MTBE exposure which the company received between May 1, 1993 and April 30, 1994 (the close of the 1993-94 oxygenate season). Consistent with the original company complaint survey, respondents were not asked to evalu
43、ate the reported complaints. The original 1993 ComDanv Complaint Survev acquired data on 61 employee complaints and 9 customer complaints which listed a total of 149 individual symptoms. The 1994 follow-up Company Complaint Survey obtained a total of 42 symptoms, which were noted in 10 employee comp
44、laints and 4 customer complaints. Consequently, a total of 71 employee complaints and 13 customer complaints (listing a total of 191 individual symptoms) were collected by the two surveys. The two surveys also acquired data on the complainants gender, age, and type (worker or consumer); exposure loc
45、ation; and probable MTBE source. The 1993 survey also requested data on medical treatment received (if any) and asked whether or not the alleged exposure incident was reported to a state or federal agency. The I994 follow-up complaint survey made an additional request for any monitoring data related
46、 to the alleged exposure incident. ITAQS developed a database listing all data acquired through the two surveys, including a few complaints which were reported prior to the specified start date of January I, 1988. The remainder of this report provides a more detailed description of the two Company C
47、omplaint Surveys. It includes a copy of each survey questionnaire, discusses the selection of survey recipients, and describes the follow-up procedures employed used to increase response rate. The presentation of preliminary data given at July 1993 EPA workshop is included as Appendix E. The report
48、concludes with a statistical analysis of the data acquired by the two surveys. 1-3 Section 2 QUESTIONNAIRE DISTRIBUTION AND FOLLOW-UP The original 1993 survey questionnaire (Appendix A) requested that the respondent provide 10 data items for each complaint together with a brief description of the co
49、mplaint. During March and April of 1993, API contacted 18 member companies to identify potential recipients for the complaint survey. The final version of the survey was transmitted on May 19, 1993 by API to industrial hygienists at each of the 18 API member companies. Each company was asked to return the completed forms and supplemental data by May 28, 1993. ITAQS made telephone follow-up calls on June 8, 9, and 24, 1993. Consistent with guidance received from API, the final due date for completed complaint surveys was set for July 2, 1993. By July 2, 1993, 17 of the 1
