Effect of vehicle use and maintenance patterns of a self-described group of sensitive individuals and nonsensitive individuals to methyl tertiary-butyl ether in gasoline.
The objective of this study was to compare the driving habits and vehicle maintenance patterns of individuals who report symptoms when exposed to methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and those who are asymptomatic when exposed to the oxygenate. Participants were healthy volunteers (CON) and self-reported MTBE-sensitive individuals (SRS) who participated in a controlled exposure study of MTBE in gasoline. A questionnaire was developed to gather information about each participant's automobile usage, engine maintenance habits and fueling and driving patterns. Results showed that the individuals who had self-reported heightened sensitivity to the oxygenate drove their vehicles more often and fueled their vehicles more frequently than asymptomatic individuals. In addition, the self-reported symptomatic individuals in this study were shown to be more likely to drive vehicles with some form of body damage and carbureted engines.
Opiekun
R E
RE
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, New Jersey. opiekun@monell.org
Freeman
N C
NC
Kelly-McNeil
K
K
Fiedler
N L
NL
Lioy
P J
PJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003625:Data Collection; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether