Agent Name
Ethyl tert-butyl ether
Synonyms
1,1-Dimethylethyl ethyl ether; 2-Ethoxy-2-methylpropane; 2-Methyl-2-ethoxypropane; ETBE; Ethyl 1,1-dimethylethyl ether; Ethyl tert-butyl oxide; Methyl-2-ethoxypropane; tert-Butyl ethyl ether; [ChemIDplus]
Description
Colorless, pale yellow liquid with an unpleasant terpene-like odor; extremely flammable; [ACGIH]
Sources/Uses
An alternative gasoline additive to decrease carbon monoxide emissions; [ACGIH]
Comments
At lethal concentrations, exposed animals experience general anesthetic effects. [ChemIDplus] A skin and eye irritant; NOAEL = 500 ppm for CNS effects in rats; In 90 day inhalation studies of rats, causes liver changes (5000 ppm) and degenerative changes of spermatocytes in seminiferous tubules (1750-5000 ppm); [ACGIH]
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (mice) = 123,000 mg/m3/15 min
Explanatory Notes
VP from ChemIDplus;
Neurotoxin
Acute solvent syndrome
ACGIH Carcinogen
Not Classifiable
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: