Fuel Cell Fuel Methonol No More Studies Needed

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 -- Earlier this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received final public comment for a comprehensive review of available data on the health effects of methanol, which was supported by a leading environmental organization and a coalition of health and animal rights groups. In July, the Methanol Institute Testing Group, after reviewing data from 100 studies, provided the EPA with a Robust Summary concluding there is abundant data to fully evaluate the potential health effects of methanol, and no additional testing is necessary.

The EPA received supporting comments on the Methanol Institute's Robust Summary from Environmental Defense and a consortium of health and animal rights groups which included the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Humane Society of the United States, Doris Day Animal League, and Earth Island Institute.

Writing for Environmental Defense, Consulting Toxicologist Dr. George Lucier and Senior Attorney Karen Florini stated, ``The Methanol Institute Testing Group concludes that no additional testing is required under the HPV testing program. We concur with this conclusion based on our review of the robust summaries as well as numerous research articles on methanol toxicity published in open scientific literature.''

On behalf of the health and animal rights consortium, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Staff Scientist Nicole Cardello wrote, ``The Methanol Institute Testing Group's test plan and robust summaries represent a comprehensive review of available information on the compound ... and has appropriately concluded that no further testing is necessary under the HPV program. Additionally, we commend the consortium's discussion of human clinical data and species differences in response to exposure to methanol -- analyses that have been glaringly absent from other HPV test plans.

Developers of fuel cell technology consider methanol an ideal source of hydrogen to power consumer products such as cellular phones, laptop computers, and even a new generation of high-performance, Zero-Emission automobiles. Increased use of this common chemical (currently used by wastewater treatment plants, and to make plywood, plastics, windshield washer fluid, and other products) requires EPA to carefully study its health and safety characteristics, and ensure full public access to information concerning methanol.

To view a copy of the Robust Summary and the comments provided visit the EPA's web site at, http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/methanol/c13104tc.htm . The EPA is expected to provide its final comments on the methanol Robust Summary shortly.

In 1998, then Vice President Al Gore challenged the chemical industry to voluntarily provide basic human health and environmental toxicity information for public education.

In 2000, The Methanol Institute formed an industry consortium to coordinate activities for methanol under the HPV Challenge Program. The Methanol Institute Testing Group included 3M, Borden, Methanol Holdings Trinidad Ltd., Ecofuel, Lyondell, Millenium, Southern Chemical, Terra Industries, Methanex, Vulcan Chemicals, Ashland, Celanese, Enron Clean Fuels, Sands Creek Chemical, Sterling Chemicals, Synetix, Sabic Americas, and Conseil European des Federations de L'Industrie Chimique.

The Methanol Institute serves as the trade association for the methanol industry.