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PubMedDate not supplied

Coast Guard exposure to gasoline, MTBE, and benzene vapors during inspection of tank barges.

A field study was conducted June through August 1996 in an attempt to quantify short-term exposure levels to Coast Guard personnel performing routine inspection activities aboard commercial tank barges carrying gasoline. Transfer and fleeting operations were monitored in the ports of Pittsburgh, Pa., Huntington, W.Va., Baton Rouge, La., and Galveston, Tex. A total of 43 personal and 68 area samples were analyzed for benzene and total hydrocarbons as gasoline ("gasoline"). Results can be summarized as follows: Personal exposure to benzene gave 15-min time-weighted-average (TWA) results ranging from <0.10 to 0.50 ppm. Area benzene levels ranged from <0.04 to 170 ppm. Personal monitoring for gasoline revealed a range of <2.0 to 590 mg/m3 with a GM of 23 mg/m3. Area sample results for gasoline ranged from 1.7 to 90,000 mg/m3. Twelve personal samples were collected for methyl-tert butyl ether (MTBE). Only two of these were above the limit of detection and had 15-min time-weighted averages of 22 ppm and 1.3 ppm. Eighteen MTBE area samples ranged in value from <3.0 to 38 ppm. Although none of the personal samples met or exceeded proposed or established short-term exposure standards, many of the area sampling results indicated that a significant risk of acute exposure exists in the vicinity of valves, pressure lines, and connections. This includes anticipated sources such as pressure vent valves as well as unexpected sources resulting from structural deficiencies onboard the vessels. These results further emphasize the value of safe work practices and proper vessel maintenance in controlling exposure to harmful chemicals.

Benzene↗
PubMed2003

Purification characteristics of golden pothos for atmospheric gasoline.

Previous studies have shown that plants have the ability to purify various atmospheric chemicals. Gasoline is one of the more serious pollutants. Soil and atmospheric pollution caused by gasoline is increasing due to the widespread use of automobiles. In this article, the purification characteristic of the pothos plant for atmospheric gasoline is investigated using a tin oxide gas sensor. The purification rate (Pr), defined as the purification ability per hour as described by a differential coefficient, has a maximum value at longer time intervals as the pollutant concentration becomes higher. Pr can be represented by an exponential function of lapsed time and its characteristic in soil is similar. A golden pothos plant growing in a 30-cm diameter pot of was placed in a 300-I experimental chamber to examine its purification ability. Pr had a maximum value 40 h after a 0.04-ml injection of gasoline into the chamber. The total purification ability (Pa) is also used in this study and is derived using the peak value (h) and the full width (tw) at half maximum of the tin oxide gas-sensor characteristic, namely Pa = h/tw x 100. The Pa of the pothos for gasoline was about 7, with the value decreasing as the pollutant concentration increased.

Araceae↗
PubMed2002

Carcinogenicity of methyl-tertiary butyl ether in gasoline.

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was added to gasoline on a nationwide scale in 1992 without prior testing of adverse, toxic, or carcinogenic effects. Since that time, numerous reports have appeared describing adverse health effects of individuals exposed to MTBE, both from inhalation of fumes in the workplace and while pumping gasoline. Leakage of MTBE, a highly water-soluble compound, from underground storage tanks has led to contamination of the water supply in many areas of the United States. Legislation has been passed by many states to prohibit the addition of MTBE to gasoline. The addition of MTBE to gasoline has not accomplished its stated goal of decreasing air pollution, and it has posed serious health risks to a large portion of the population, particularly the elderly and those with respiratory problems, asthma, and skin sensitivity. Reports of animal studies of carcinogenicity of MTBE began to appear in the 1990s, prior to the widespread introduction of MTBE into gasoline. These reports were largely ignored. In ensuing years, further studies have shown that MTBE causes various types of malignant tumors in mice and rats. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Board of Scientific Counselors' Report on Carcinogens Subcommittee met in December 1998 to consider listing MTBE as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." In spite of recommendations from Dr. Bailer, the primary reviewer, and other scientists on the committee, the motion to list MTBE in the report was defeated by a six to five vote, with one abstention. On the basis of animal studies, it is widely accepted that if a chemical is carcinogenic in appropriate laboratory animal test systems, it must be treated as though it were carcinogenic in humans. In the face of compelling evidence, NTP Committee members who voted not to list MTBE as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" did a disservice to the general public; this action may cause needless exposure of many to health risks and possibly cancers.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1999

Nested case-control study of leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer in a cohort of petroleum workers exposed to gasoline.

OBJECTIVES: This nested case-control study was based on data in a cohort study of more than 18,000 petroleum distribution workers exposed to gasoline, which contains about 2%-3% benzene. Risks of leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancer were examined relative to exposure to gasoline. METHODS: For each case, up to five individually matched controls were selected. Analyses based on the Mantel-Haenszel procedure as well as univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression were performed for each disease category. Jobs with similar exposures were grouped into homogeneous categories for analysis. Several quantitative indices of exposure to gasoline were used in the analyses: duration of exposure, cumulative exposure, frequency of peak exposure, and time of first exposure. RESULTS: No increased risks for the four cancers were found for any job category. Analyses with logistic regression models based on duration of exposure, cumulative exposure, and frequency of peak exposure did not show any increased risk or exposure-effect relation. Time of first exposure to gasoline was also found to be unrelated to the four diseases under investigation. CONCLUSION: Exposure to gasoline or benzene at the concentrations experienced by this cohort of distribution workers is not a risk factor for leukaemia (all cell types), acute myeloid leukaemia, multiple myeloma, or kidney cancer.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Review of new evidence regarding the relationship of gasoline exposure to kidney cancer and leukemia.

Four new or updated epidemiologic studies were presented at a meeting on the health effects of gasoline exposure held in Miami, Florida, November 5-8, 1991. A focus of these studies was whether there is a relationship between gasoline exposure and kidney cancer and leukemia. For gasoline distribution workers, who have a relatively high exposure, there was some evidence for a kidney cancer relationship in three studies but none in the fourth. There was evidence for an acute myelocytic leukemia relationship in three studies. The fourth study dealt only with kidney cancer. It is possible that the benzene content of gasoline was responsible for the leukemia findings. It is uncertain whether gasoline exposure is a cause of kidney cancer.

Gasoline↗
PubMed1993

Acute toxicity of gasoline and some additives.

The acute toxicity of gasoline; its components benzene, toluene, and xylene; and the additives ethanol, methanol, and methyl tertiary butyl ether are reviewed. All of these chemicals are only moderately to mildly toxic at acute doses. Because of their volatility, these compounds are not extensively absorbed dermally unless the exposed skin is occluded. Absorption through the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract is quite efficient. After ingestion, the principal danger for a number of these chemicals, particularly gasoline, is aspiration pneumonia, which occurs mainly in children. It is currently not clear whether aspiration pneumonia would still be a problem if gasoline were diluted with ethanol or methanol. During the normal use of gasoline or mixtures of gasoline and the other solvents as a fuel, exposures would be much lower than the doses that have resulted in poisoning. No acute toxic health effects would occur during the normal course of using automotive fuels.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Childhood burn injuries related to gasoline can home storage.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risks associated with home storage of gasoline and to outline prevention strategies to avoid further injury and death. DESIGN: Case series. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five patients less than 6 years old were selected for study (3 by presentation to a tertiary care Children's Hospital Emergency Department, and 22 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Data during the same calendar year). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data collected included child's age; burn injury, either percent body surface area or minor, moderate, or major burn classification; mortality; circumstances related to ignition of gasoline, such as behaviors, and if can was opened or closed; and flame source. RESULTS: Boys were involved in 95% of cases. Mean age was 2.7 years. The source of ignition was a pilot light in 100% of cases. Forty-four percent of patients died. Only vapors were ignited in 56% of cases. The gasoline can was described as closed in 64% of cases. CONCLUSION: Gasoline is dangerous. The rectangular red metal gasoline can is not safe either. National building codes and can specifications are needed to prevent serious injury and deaths among young children.

Burns↗
PubMed2001

Human cytochrome P450 isozymes in metabolism and health effects of gasoline ethers.

To reduce the production of carbon monoxide and other pollutants in motor vehicle exhaust, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE*), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME) are added to gasoline as oxygenates for more complete combustion. Among them, MTBE is the most widely used. The possible adverse effect of MTBE in humans is a public concern, but the human enzymes responsible for metabolism of these gasoline ethers and the causes or factors for increased sensitivity to MTBE in certain individuals are totally unknown. This information is important to understanding the health effects of MTBE in humans and to assessing the human relevance of pharmacokinetics and toxicity data obtained from animals. In the present study, we demonstrated that human liver is active in metabolizing MTBE to tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), a major circulating metabolite and an exposure marker of MTBE. The activity is localized in the microsomal fraction but not in the cytosol. Formation of TBA in human liver microsomes is NADPH-dependent and is significantly inhibited by carbon monoxide, which inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. These results provide strong evidence that CYP enzymes play a critical role in the metabolism of MTBE in human livers. Human liver is also active in the oxidative metabolism of 2 other gasoline ethers, ETBE and TAME. We observed a large interindividual variation in metabolizing these gasoline ethers in 15 microsomal samples prepared from normal human livers. The activity level (pmol metabolite/min/mg) ranged from 204 to 2,890 for MTBE; 179 to 3,134 for ETBE; and 271 to 8,532 for TAME. The microsomal activities in metabolizing MTBE, ETBE, and TAME correlated highly with each other (r = 0.91 to 0.96), suggesting that these ethers are metabolized by the same enzyme(s). Correlation analysis of the ether-metabolizing activities with individual CYP enzyme activities in the human liver microsomes showed that the highest degree of correlation was with CYP isoform 2A6 (CYP2A6)+ (r = 0.94 for MTBE, 0.95 for ETBE, and 0.90 for TAME), which is constitutively expressed in human livers and known to be polymorphic. CYP2A6 displayed the highest turnover number in metabolizing gasoline ethers among a battery of human CYP enzymes expressed in human B-lymphoblastoid cells. CYP2A6 coexpressed with human CYP reductase by a baculovirus expression system was also more active than CYP isoform 2E1 (CYP2E1) in the metabolism of MTBE, ETBE, and TAME. Kinetic studies on MTBE metabolism with human liver microsomes (n = 3) exhibited an apparent Michaelis constant (Km) of 28 to 89 microM and a maximum rate of metabolism (Vmax) of 215 to 783 pmol/min/mg. Metabolism of MTBE, ETBE, and TAME by human liver microsomes was inhibited by coumarin, a known substrate of human CYP2A6, in a concentration-dependent manner. Monoclonal antibody against human CYP2A6 caused a significant inhibition (75% to 95%) of the metabolism of MTBE, ETBE, and TAME in human liver microsomes. Taken together, these results clearly indicate that, in human liver, CYP2A6 is a major enzyme responsible for metabolism of MTBE, ETBE, and TAME. Although CYP2E1 metabolizes diethyl ether and was previously suggested to be involved

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1999

[Comparison of children's blood lead levels in Shanghai before and after the introduction of lead free gasoline].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the blood lead levels of children before and after the introduction of lead free gasoline in Shanghai. METHODS: We measured the blood lead levels in 1972 children in Shanghai before the introduction of lead free gasoline in Shanghai. The blood lead levels of those children were re-determined 6 months after the leaded gasoline was phased out. RESULTS: After leaded gasoline was phased out, geometric mean of blood lead levels was decreased significantly from 83 micrograms/L to 80 micrograms/L. The prevalence rate of childhood lead poisoning (blood lead level equal to or more than 100 micrograms/L) decreased from 37.8% to 25.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of lead free gasoline could decrease children's blood lead levels in Shanghai. However, the magnitude of decrease is not as great as expected, suggesting that more environmental interventions, such as industry emission control, are needed to prevent childhood lead poisoning.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Exposure to emissions from gasoline within automobile cabins.

Gasoline is emitted from automobiles as uncombusted fuel and via evaporation. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) from gasoline are at higher levels in roadway air than in the surrounding ambient atmosphere and penetrate into automobile cabins, thereby exposing commuters to higher levels than they would experience in other microenvironments. Measurements of VOC concentrations and carbon monoxide were made within automobiles during idling, while driving on a suburban route in New Jersey, and on a commute to New York City. Concentrations of VOC from gasoline were determined to be elevated above the ambient background levels in all microenvironments while VOC without a gasoline source were not. The variability of VOC concentrations with location within the automobile was determined to be smaller than inter-day variability during idling studies. VOC and carbon monoxide levels within the automobile cabin differed among the different routes examined. The levels were related to traffic density and were inversely related to driving speed and wind speed. Overall, daily VOC exposure for gasoline-derived compounds during winter commuting in New Jersey was estimated to range between 5 and 20% and constituted between 15 and 40% of an individual's daily exposure based on comparison to urban and suburban settings, respectively. VOC exposure during commuting in Southern California was estimated to range between 15 and 60%.

Air↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gasoline burns: the preventable cause of thermal injury.

Gasoline related burns are a significant cause of thermal injuries each year in the United States. In this retrospective review of 1858 admissions to our Regional Burn Center from 1979 to 1988, 270 (14.5%) were persons with gasoline-related injuries. Natural gas and other distillates were excluded. Most victims were male (228 of 270); mean age was 27 years; mean burn size was 25% total body surface area. There were 299 skin grafts performed on 172 patients, and there were 16 deaths. The mean length of stay decreased from 38 to 17 days (p less than 0.001) between the first and second 5-year time periods, even though there was no significant change in age or mean burn size. The majority (59%) of gasoline-related burns were the result of inappropriate or unsupervised use of gasoline. The general public is largely unaware of the dangers of gasoline, and further education in this area is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of combustion by-products of MTBE as a component of reformulated gasoline.

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) is a gasoline oxygenate that is widely used throughout the US and Europe as an octane-booster and as a means of reducing automotive carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. The combustion by-products of pure MTBE have been evaluated in previous laboratory studies, but little attention has been paid to the combustion by-products of MTBE as a component of gasoline. MTBE is often used in reformulated gasoline (RFG), which has chemical and physical characteristics distinct from conventional gasoline. The formation of MTBE by-products in RFG is not well-understood, especially under "worst-case" vehicle emission scenarios such as fuel-rich operations, cold-starts or malfunctioning emission control systems, conditions which have not been studied extensively. Engine-out automotive dynamometer studies have compared RFG with MTBE to non-oxygenated RFG. Their findings suggest that adding MTBE to reformulated gasoline does not impact the high temperature flame chemistry in cylinder combustion processes. Comparison of tailpipe and exhaust emission studies indicate that reactions in the catalytic converter are quite effective in destroying most hydrocarbon MTBE by-product species. Since important reaction by-products are formed in the post-flame region, understanding changes in this region will contribute to the understanding of fuel-related changes in emissions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

A reactive analytical approach for the estimation of olefinic content in gasoline-range hydrocarbons by gas chromatography.

The estimation of olefinic content in conversion processes such as the etherification of olefins in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline is essentially required. Gas chromatography (GC) is the well-established method for the quantitative analysis of olefins in etherification processes. The current state-of-the-art GC methods employing highly specific long single capillary columns such as Petrocol-DH are being used for the analysis of gasoline-range hydrocarbons. However, the method needs many standard reference samples of respective components in a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, which limits the scope of the analytical method. The alternative approach followed by this investigation is based on the reactive method of the analysis of olefins in FCC light gasoline by subjecting them to hydrogenation and estimating the olefinic content by GC comparing the gas chromatograms of the original feed and hydrogenated product using a Petrocol-DH column. A decrease in the quantity and disappearances of the peaks are assumed as olefins, and their number and total composition is calculated. In this study the bromine number method is used to estimate the olefinic content for a comparison of results with the adopted proposed methodology. The adopted methodology quantitates olefinic content in FCC light gasoline, which is comparable with reported literature values and the bromine number method. With the availability of standard reference samples of some important major reactive olefins, the adopted methodology can also give component-wise analysis as well as total olefinic content in a single step in processes such as etherification. The methodology can be also useful in reactions in which the conversion of total olefinic content is needed such as hydration, esterification, and alkylation of olefins in a complex mixture of hydrocarbons apart from the etherification of olefins in FCC gasoline.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Molecular analysis of occupational cancer: infrequent p53 and ras mutations in renal-cell cancer in workers exposed to gasoline.

Occupational exposure to gasoline has been identified in several studies as a risk factor for renal-cell cancer. Cases of renal-cell cancer with and without work-related exposure to gasoline or gasoline and diesel fuel were studied for the presence of mutations in the tumour-suppressor gene p53 (n = 23 exposed and 30 non-exposed cases studied) and ras oncogene (n = 30 exposed and 36 non-exposed cases studied). An average cumulative exposure was estimated at 10 ppm-years benzene among the exposed. Three p53 mutations were detected by denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) among the 23 exposed cases (3/23, 13%). Of the non-exposed referent cases, 4 had a mutation (4/30, 13%). All but one of the cases with a p53 mutation had smoked. A ras gene (K-ras or N-ras) mutation was found in 3 (3/66, 4.5%) cases, all of whom were smoker referents. We conclude that p53 and ras mutations are infrequent in renal-cell cancer associated with occupational exposure to gasoline. However, the majority of the mutations (6/7 for p53, and 3/3 for ras genes) were seen in smokers.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Elevated risk for male breast cancer after occupational exposure to gasoline and vehicular combustion products.

BACKGROUND: Automotive gasoline contains benzene, 1,3-butadiene, 1, 2-dibromoethane and 1,2-dichloroethane, and the combustion products include certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which have shown mammary gland carcinogenicity in long-term bioassays. It is the aim of this paper to investigate whether men occupationally exposed to gasoline and its combustion products have an elevated risk of breast cancer. METHODS: A nationwide register based case control study on male breast cancer morbidity was established among members of a pension fund, compulsory for all employees. Employment histories were reconstructed for each of 230 cases and 12,880 control subjects based on computerized records. The odds ratios, adjusted for socioeconomic status, were estimated by conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: When a lag time of at least 10 years was included, the odds ratio for breast cancer among men with over three months of employment in trades with potential exposure to gasoline and combustion products was 2.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.3-4.5). Among men younger than 40 years at the time of first employment, the odds ratio was 5.4 (2.4-11.9). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the hypothesis that occupational exposure to gasoline vapors and combustion products may play a role in the causation of male breast cancer. This hypothesis warrants further evaluation particularly in women.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Dangerous properties of petroleum-refining products: carcinogenicity of motor fuels (gasoline).

Gasoline contains large numbers of dangerous and cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene, butadiene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, trimethyl pentane, methyltertbutylether (MTBE) and many others. For the U.S. alone approximately 140 billion gallons of gasoline were consumed in 1989. An increase in only ten cents per gallon in price of gasoline generates 14 billion dollars in extra profit per year for oil industry cartel. Laboratory animals exposed to gasoline developed cancers in different tissues and organs. A number of epidemiological studies in humans provide evidence of increased cancer risk of leukemia, kidney, liver, brain, lymphosarcoma, lymphatic tissue pancreas and other tissues and organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of oxygen, nitrogen, and temperature on gasoline biodegradation in soil.

Biodegradation was considered to be a feasible approach to remediate petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil from a site at the University of Idaho. Before a full-scale treatment process was designed, the biodegradative capacity of the soil's indigenous microorganisms was tested. Gas chromatography was used to measure gasoline vapor components in the headspace above the contaminated soils held in closed containers. In a study of biodegradation kinetics, gasoline degradation rates under various conditions (different soil cores, temperatures, oxygen concentrations, and nutrient concentrations) were tested. It was found that gasoline hydrocarbons could be biodegraded at relatively high rates after appropriate nutrient additions. An unexpected observation was that the optimal concentration of oxygen for the gasoline-degrading microorganisms in these soils was only 10%.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1997

Environmental exposure to gasoline and leukemia in children and young adults--an ecology study.

Benzene is an established cause of leukemia in adults, especially acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). A few studies have indicated that exposure to gasoline is a cause of childhood leukemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate if environmental exposure to benzene from gasoline and car exhaust was associated with leukemia in children and young adults. The exposure to gasoline and car exhaust was estimated by the number of cars per area. In this ecology study, data on the incidence of cancer in each municipality of Sweden during an 11-year period (1975-1985) were compared with the number of cars per area. Data on the incidence of cancer for persons aged 0-24 years at diagnosis were collected from the National Swedish Cancer Register. The following diagnoses were studied: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found an association between AML and car density. In municipalities with more than 20 cars/km2 the incidence of AML was 5.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.4-6.8, n = 89] as compared with 3.4 (95% CI 1.9-5.7, n = 15) cases per 1 million person-years in municipalities with less than 5 cars/km2 (P = 0.05). No association was found for the other sites of cancer studied. The association between AML in young adults and car density might be attributable to exposure to benzene from gasoline vapors and exhaust gases, but further investigations are necessary before any definite conclusion can be drawn.

Adolescent↗