Ecobreves – URUGUAY: Gasoline Additive MTBE Rejected

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MONTEVIDEO, Apr 10 2004 (IPS) - The Uruguayan research center for appropriate technologies, CEUTA, condemned that lead tetraethyl, previously used as an additive in some gasolines, has been replaced by MTBE, a known carcinogenic and contaminating substance that is banned in many countries. MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) promotes complete combustion of fuel and reduces emissions of carbon dioxide, but causes cancer in animals and perhaps in humans. Furthermore, it may contaminate potable water, giving it unpleasant taste and odor, resulting from spills during transport or in storage, or from gasoline evaporation.

The decision of the governmental fuel and alcohol corporation ANCAP “could have been good news, but is a reason for renewed concern,” Gerardo Honty, CEUTA researcher, told Tierramérica. He recommends a corn-based additive as an alternative to tetraethyl and MTBE.