美国加州能源委员会宣布,汽油添加剂MTBE禁用期推迟1年,至2004年1月1日起禁用。 报告表明,2003年禁用可能使汽油价格上涨50％～100％。原发现MTBE污染饮用水源而被禁用,研究表明,大量MTBE会使动物致癌,但对人类的影响尚不清楚。美国清洁空气法要求在空气质量欠佳的地区销售的汽油应含2％含氧化合物,炼油厂大多采用MTBE或基于谷物生产的乙醇来满足这一要 The California Energy Commission announced that the phase-out period for the gasoline additive MTBE has been postponed for one year and has been banned since January 1, 2004. The report shows that the ban in 2003 may increase gasoline prices by 50% to 100%. The original discovery that MTBE contaminated drinking water sources was banned. Studies have shown that large amounts of MTBE can cause animals to be carcinogenic, but the effects on humans are unclear. The U.S. Clean Air Act requires that gasoline sold in areas with poor air quality contain 2% oxygenated compounds. Most refineries use MTBE or ethanol based on grain to meet this requirement.