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Chemicals can be released lo Ihc envi-
ronment as a result of their manufacture.
processing, and use The HPA has devel-
oped information summaries on selected
chemicals lo describe how you might be
exposed to these chemicals, how exposure
lo them might alTcct you and the cnvi-
innmcnl. what happens to them in the en-
vironment, who regulates them, and whom
to contact for additional information EPA
is committed to reducing environmental
releases of chemicals through source re-
duction and other practices that reduce
creation of pollutants
WHAT IS METHANOL, HOW IS IT
USED, AND HOW MIGHT I BE
EXPOSED?
Mclhannl (also known as methyl
alcohol and wood alcohol) is a colorless
liquid that may explode when exposed to an
open flame It occurs naturally in wood and
in volcanic gases Mcthanol is also a
product of decaying organic material It is
produced in very large amounts (ap-
proximately 1.3 billion gallons in 1992) by
thirteen companies in the United States. US
demand for mcthanol is likely to increase
over the next several years The largest
users of the mclhanol sold in the US arc
companies that make methyl t-butyl ether, a
gasoline additive Companies also use
mcthanol to make chemicals such as for-
maldehyde, acetic acid, chloromethancs.
and methyl mcthacrylate Companies add
mcthanol to paint strippers, aerosol spray
paints, wall paints, carburetor cleaners, and
car windshield washer products Mclhanol
is also a gasoline additive and. in some
cases, a gasoline substitute for use in
automobiles and other small engines
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Exposure to mclhanol can occur in the
workplace or in llic environment following
releases to air. water, land, or groundwntcr
Exposure can occur when people use certain
paint stnppcrs. aerosol spray paints, wall paints.
windshield wiper fluid, and small engine fuel
Mclhanol enters the body when breathed in with
contaminated air or when consumed with con-
taminated food or water It can also be absorbed
through skin contact It does not remain in the
body due to ils breakdown and removal in
expired air or unne
WHAT HAPPENS TO METHANOL IN
THE ENVIRONMENT?
Methanol evaporates when exposed to
air It dissolves completely when mixed with
water Most direct releases ofmethano! to the
environment arc to air Methanol also evapo-
rates from water and soil exposed to air Once
in air. it breaks down to other chemicals Mi-
croorganisms that live in water and in soil can
also break down methanol 13ecausc it is a
liquid that docs not bind well to soil, methanol
that makes ils way into the ground can move
through the ground and enlcr groundwalcr
Plants and animals arc not likely to store
methanol
HOW DOES METHANOL AFFECT
HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT?
Effects of methanol on human health
and ihc environment depend on how much
mclhanol is present and the Icnglh and fre-
quency of exposure Effects also depend on the
health of a person or the condition of the
environment when exposure occurs.
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People have died as a result of
drinking large amounts of mclhanol.
Drinking smaller, non lethal amounts of
mcthanol adversely affects the human
nervous syslcm Hffccls range from
headaches to mcoordination similar to
that associated with drunkenness De-
layed effects such as severe abdominal.
leg. and back pain can follow the ine-
briation effects of mcthanol lx)ss of
vision and even blindness can also oc-
cur after exposure to amounts of
mclhanol causing inebriation These
effects arc not likely to occur at levels of
mcthanol that arc normally found in the
environment
Human health effects associ-
ated with breathing or otherwise con-
suming smaller amounts of mcthanol
over long periods of time are not
known Workers repeatedly exposed to
mcthanol have experienced several
adverse effects Effects range from
headaches to sleep disorders and gas-
trointestinal problems to optic nerve
damage Laboratory studies show that
repeat exposure to large amounts of
mcthanol in air or in drinking water
cause similar adverse effects in animals
Mcthanol by itself is not likely
to cause environmental harm at levels
normally found in the environment
Mclhanol can conlribute to the forma-
tion of photochemical smog when it
reacts with other volatile organic carbon
substances in air
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WHAT EPA PROGRAM omncs RCGULATE METHANOL, AND UNDEK WHAT LAWS u IT REGULATED?
EPA OFFICE LAW PHONE NIMBEK
Pollution Prevention & Toxics Toxic Substances Control Act (202)554-1404
Emergency Planning «nd CommunityRighl-to-Know Act (EPCRA): Regul«tions (§ 313) (800)535-0202
Tones Release Inventory data (202) 260-1531
Air Clean Air Act (919)541-0888
Solid Waste & Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund) (800)5354202
Emergency Response Resource Conservation and Recovery Act EPCRA (§ 304311312)
A technical support document a available from the TSCA Assistance Information Service, (202) 554-1404
WHAT OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES OR GROUTS CAN I CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ON METHANOL?
AGENCY/GROUP PHONE NUMBER
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (404) 639-6000
Amencan Conference of GovemmenLiJ Industrial Hygienists (513)742-2020
Consumer Product Safety Commission (301) 504-0994
Food and Drug Administration (301)443-3170
National institute for Environmental Health Sciences (EnviroHealth Clearinghouse) (800) 643-4794
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Heatth (NIOSH) (800) 356-4674
Occupational Safety and Heahh Administration (Check your local phone book under L'.S Department of Labor)
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