Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2002-0033-0040
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2000-03-07T05:00Z

B.
Behavior
in
Water
"Neat"
(pure)
ethanol
is
infinitely
soluble
in
water.
Laboratory
data
and
hypothetical
modeling
indicate
that
based
on
physical,
chemical,
and
biological
properties,
ethanol
will
likely
preferentially
biodegrade
in
ground
water
compared
with
other
gasoline
components
with
the
potential
to
extend
BTEX
plumes
further
than
they
would
be
without
ethanol
pre~
ent.
2~

Although
ethanol
has
been
shown
to
retard
BTEX
biodegradation
under
certain
laboratory
conditions,
evidence
of
ethanol's
effect
on
the
migration
of
BTEX
plumes
under
various
conditions,
i.
e.,
hydrogeology;
field
concentrations;
nature
of
release
scenario
(for
example,
large
sudden
release
versus
slow
continuous
release)
has
not
been
collected
and
compiled.
24
A
more
comprehensive
review
is
still
needed
to
investigate
and
determine
the
nature
and
extent
of
field
experiences
regarding
ethanol's
effect
(including
behavior
and
fate
properties)
on
BTEX
plume
migration,
aquifer
remediation,
and
drinking
water
treatment.

C.
Health
Effects
The
health
effects
of
ingested
ethanol
have
been
extensively
investigated.
Given
that
ethanol
is
formed
naturally
in
the
body
at
low
levels,
inhalation
exposure
to
ethanol
at
the
low
levels
that
humans
are
likely
to
be
exposed
are
generally
not
expected
to
result
in
adverse
health
effects.
25
Health
effects
questions
have
been
raised,
however,
about
potentially
sensitive
subpopulations.
In
addition,
increased
use
of
ethanol
may
result
in
increases
of
certain
atmospheric
transformation
products,
such
as
PAN
and
acetaldehyde,
although
the
extent
of
such
increase
is
unknownz6
PAN,
which
has
been
shown
to
be
mutagenic
in
cellular
research,
is
a
known
toxin
to
plant
life
and
a
respiratory
irritant
to
human^.^
'
Combustion
byproducts
of
ethanol
may
also
cause
adverse
health
effects.
Acetaldehyde
is
a
respiratory
irritant
at
high
levels
of
human
exposure
and
is
currently
classified
by
EPA
as
a
probable
human
carcinogen.

22
(...
continued)
Run
Into
Trouble,"
New
Scientist,
1989,
122
(1656),
30.
cn
c
`3
Michael
Kavanaugh
and
Andrew
Stocking,
"Fate
and
Transport
of
Ethanol
in
the
Environment,"
presentation
at
the
May
1999
MTBE
Blue
Ribbon
Panel
meeting.
[Based
on
Malcome
Pirnie,
Inc.
Evaluation
of
the
Fate
and
Transport
of
Ethanol
in
the
Environment
(Oakland,
CA,
1998.)]

24
Michael
Kavanaugh
and
Andrew
Stocking,
"Fate
and
Transport
of
Ethanol
in
the
Environment,"
presentation
at
the
May
1999
MTBE
Blue
Ribbon
Panel
meeting.
[Based
on
Malcorne
Pirnie,
Inc.
Evaluation
of
the
Fate
and
Transport
ofEthanoI
in
the
Environment
(Oakland,
CA,
1998.)]

"
Health
Effects
Institute,
The
Potentia!
Health
Effects
of
Oxygenates
Added
to
Gasoline,
April
1996.

"
Health
Effects
Institute,
The
Potential
Health
Effects
of
Oxygenates
Added
to
Gasoline,
April
1996.

''
L.
Milgrom,
"Clean
Car
Fuels
Run
Into
Trouble,"
New
Scientist,
1989,
122
(1656),
30.

85