Re: MTBE misclassified

Abstract

Dr. Mehlman's commentary is a further reminder of the many problems caused by our nation's cavalier adoption of oxygenated fuels without adequate scientific consideration of environmental consequences. We disagree with Dr. Mehlman only to the extent that we are not fully convinced that MTBE is clearly a probable human carcinogen, and we would not be critical of the National Toxicology Program. The close vote of the NTP panel is similar to the close vote of the California Proposition 65 Science Advisory Board Panel Committee which on a tie vote is in keeping with that of IARC. However, we think the evidence of the potential for carcinogenecity is more than sufficient to preclude exposing over 100 million Americans to MTBE without first obtaining far more proof of safety.