News Release (C-28-98)

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For Immediate Release (C-28-98) Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670 November 10, 1998

Prop 65 Scientific Review Panels Conclude MTBE Is Neither a Reproductive or Developmental Toxicant nor a Carcinogen

SACRAMENTO – On December 9, 1998, the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicants (DART) Identification Committee of the Proposition 65 Science Advisory Board, voting 5 votes to none, held that methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) was not clearly shown, through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles, to cause developmental or reproductive toxicity. In accordance with the Local Drinking Water Protection Act of 1997 (SB 1189, Hayden), the DART Identification Committee was required to make this finding for MTBE prior to January 1, 1999.

The DART Identification Committee considered the following data: a summary report of available toxicological and epidemiological data on MTBE prepared by Cal/EPA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA); written public comments and testimony at the December 9th public meeting in Sacramento, as well as the University of California report prepared pursuant to SB 521 (Mountjoy). The DART Identification Committee consists of highly qualified scientists, who are the State’s "qualified experts" advising the Governor and OEHHA as to whether chemicals have been clearly shown to cause developmental or reproductive toxicity.

On December 10, 1998, a separate Committee, the Carcinogen Identification Committee of the Proposition 65 Science Advisory Board, met in Sacramento to consider whether MTBE has been clearly shown, through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles, to cause cancer. That Committee found insufficient support for the proposition that MTBE is a carcinogen and that there was not a demonstrable majority in favor of listing within that Committee.

The Carcinogen Identification Committee’s considered a summary report of available toxicological and epidemiological data on MTBE prepared by OEHHA, written public comments on OEHHA’s report, the University of California 1998 report, "Health and Environmental Assessment of MTBE", and verbal testimony at the hearing on the 10^th in Sacramento. The Carcinogen Identification Committee consists of highly qualified scientists and are the States’ "qualified experts" advising the Governor and OEHHA as to whether the chemical has been clearly shown to cause cancer.

Reviewing the results, Secretary for Environmental Protection, Peter M. Rooney said, "These results represent careful analyses by all the involved disciplines from the two specific Review Panel perspectives." "The Panel members in each Panel are commended for their independent thought and careful analyses."

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1998 Releases | Archived Press Releases