IDENTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS OF GASOLINE OXYGENATE TERT-AMYL METHYL-ETHER (TAME)

The physico-chemical and environmental properties of a new gasoline co mponent tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME, 2-methoxy-2-methylbutane) were d etermined were experimentally and environmental hazards of the new com ponent were thereafter identified. The methodology was based on the ch emical regulations of the European Union (EU). On the basis of the exp erimental results, TAME is a volatile, non-hydrophobic and water-solub le liquid, which is not expected to be adsorbed onto organic matter in soil or sediment. it is not readily biodegradable. TAME has very low acute toxicity to aquatic organisms and is not expected to bioaccumula te. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.