IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (Tert-Butanol or TBA) (Final Report)
EPA has finalized the IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (Tert-Butanol) [CASRN 75-65-0]. This assessment addresses the potential cancer and noncancer human health effects from exposure to tert-butanol or TBA. EPA’s program and regional offices may use this assessment to inform decisions to protect human health.
tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) is used as a solvent; as a denaturant for ethanol and several other alcohols; in the manufacture of flotation agents, fruit essences, and perfumes; as an octane booster in gasoline; as a dehydrating agent; and as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of methyl methacrylate. TBA's production for industrial uses may result in its direct release to the environment through various waste streams. TBA is also a likely degradation product of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Probable routes of human exposure to TBA include inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.
tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) is used as a solvent; as a denaturant for ethanol and several other alcohols; in the manufacture of flotation agents, fruit essences, and perfumes; as an octane booster in gasoline; as a dehydrating agent; and as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of methyl methacrylate. TBA's production for industrial uses may result in its direct release to the environment through various waste streams. TBA is also a likely degradation product of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Probable routes of human exposure to TBA include inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.
Impact/Purpose
EPA is conducting an Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) health assessment for tert-butanol (TBA). The outcome of this project is a Toxicological Review for TBA that will be entered into the IRIS database for use in decision making and risk assessment by EPA program and regional offices, as well as state, federal, and international agencies.Citation
U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (Tert-Butanol or TBA) (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-20/370F, 2021.History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01- Aug 2013 | EPA released preliminary assessment materials (draft literature searches and associated search strategies, evidence tables and exposure response arrays) for discussion at an IRIS Public Science Meeting. |
| 02- Dec 2013 | EPA discussed tert-butanol at the December 2013 IRIS public science meeting. |
| 03- Sep 2014 | EPA sent an interagency science consultation draft for review and comment. |
| 04- May 2016 | EPA released the public comment draft for public review and comment. |
| 05- Jun 2016 | EPA convened a public science meeting June 29-30, 2016 to discuss the public comment draft. |
| 06- Jun 2017 | EPA released the external review draft and charge to reviewers prior to the public peer review meeting.[SAB FR Notice Jun 16, 2017] |
| 07- Jul 2017 | EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) hosted a public teleconference to discuss the draft assessment. |
| 08- Aug 2017 | EPA's SAB hosted a 2-day public meeting on August 15-17, 2017, to discuss the draft assessment. |
| 09- Feb 2019 | EPA's SAB released a final report of their review of the draft IRIS assessment (see related links). |
| 11- Jul 2020 | EPA submitted the revised interagency science discussion draft for final Agency and Interagency review. |
| 12- Aug 2021 | EPA posted the final report IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (tert-butanol) and released the interagency science discussion draft and comments to the IRIS database. |
Download(s)
This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (EPA/635/R-20/370Fa) (PDF) (156 pp, 2.4 MB, about PDF)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) - Supplemental Information (EPA/635/R-20/370Fb) (PDF) (126 pp, 3.5 MB, about PDF)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) - Executive Summary (EPA/635/R-20/370Fc) (PDF) (7 pp, 329.1 KB, about PDF)
Related Link(s)
- Review of EPA’s Draft Assessments titled Toxicological Review of Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether and Toxicological Review of tert-Butyl Alcohol (tert-Butanol)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (Preliminary Assessment Materials, 2013)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (Public Comment Draft, 2016)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (Interagency Science Consultation Draft, 2014)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (External Review Draft, 2017)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA) (Interagency Science Discussion Draft, 2020)