But that created a problem. This chemical spreads quickly when mixed into groundwater, which happens with leaky underground storage tanks all the time. Almost every state in the nation has found MTBE in their ground water. There are 10,000 MTBE-contaminated sites in California. This will undoubtedly be proven to be the worst single area with MTBE problems affecting drinking water.
Studies are now underway to determine the human health risk.
As for who's responsible, the oil companies say their hands were tied. Somewhere I recall a prophecy about three bad chemicals being in the ground water. Copyright 1998-2001 James Kennedy. All Rights Reserved.