The purpose of the Center is to provide timely and unbiased, scientifically sound evaluations of human and experimental evidence for adverse effects on reproduction, including development, caused by agents to which humans may be exposed.
Methanol is used in chemical syntheses and as an industrial solvent.
It is found in a variety of consumer products such as paints, antifreeze, cleaning solutions, and adhesives and is a by-product of sewage treatment, fermentation, and paper production. Methanol is used in race car fuels, and there is the potential for the expanded use of methanol as a vehicle fuel or fuel additive. There is a large toxicity database on reproductive and developmental effects of methanol, including a recently completed study in primates. It is anticipated that the evaluation of this chemical will be conducted in Winter 2000, in the Washington, DC area. An expert panel of approximately 10 scientists, selected for their expertise in various aspects of reproductive and developmental toxicology and other relevant areas, will conduct the evaluation.