b.2International perspective

b.2International perspective

In May 1994, the fuel or fuel additive rule (USEPA 1994b), as mandated in the Clean Air Act (US Congress 1977), was issued by the USEPA requiring all fuel or fuel additive manufacturers to provide specific mammalian toxicity studies. Furthermore, the marketing of products not registered by the USEPA was prohibited until the specific toxicity studies were provided. The USEPA subsequently claimed that MMT was not registered, but Ethyl Corporation successfully challenged this position (Ethyl Corporation v. USEPA 1995b) and has been marketing MMT in the United States since December 1995. However, the studies specified by the USEPA on MMT as well as other fuel additives must still be conducted (Wood and Egyed 1994; Davis 1998). At the time of writing, according to Ethyl, some studies have been completed. The use of MMT, especially in the United States, remains controversial (Landrigan 2001).

The use of MMT in combustion engine fuels has been permitted in Canada since 1978. At this time a review of MMT by the Canadian Department of Health and Welfare concluded that its use as a fuel additive did not constitute a hazard to human health (Health and Welfare Canada 1978). In 1985, the Canadian Royal Commission on Lead in the Environment examined MMT as part of a review on lead additives and lead substitutes in combustion engine fuel. The conclusions reached were similar to those in 1978 (Royal Society of Canada 1986). During the next two years, two independent studies were prepared under contract from Health and Welfare Canada. The first incorporated recently completed toxicity studies (Midwest Research Institute 1987) while the second completed an exposure assessment (Hill 1988). Again, both reports reached similar conclusions to those formed in 1978.

In 1994, Health Canada performed a risk assessment of the health issues arising from the use of MMT in fuel in Canada, focusing on new epidemiological studies and Canadian exposure data (Wood and Egyed 1994). These authors concluded that the use of MMT in fuel posed no added health risk to the general population. However, in 1997, trade in MMT was restricted in Canada under the Manganese-based Fuel Additives Act that effectively banned the importation of MMT into Canada. This Act was subsequently and successfully challenged on the grounds that it contravened the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). The AIT is an agreement between the federal and provincial governments designed to prevent arbitrary trade barriers within the country. In 1998, the Government of Canada announced that it had removed restrictions on inter-provincial trade and import of MMT (Davis 1998). However, the use of MMT in Canadian fuel is still the subject of debate and health and environmental uncertainties remain (Zayed et al., 2001).

In addition to the US and Canada, the use of MMT is permitted in France (Minestre de L’Amenagement du Territoire et de L’Environment 1999), UK (British Standards Institute 1999), China (China State Bureau of Quality and Technology Supervision 2000), Russia (Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Russian Federation 1997), and Argentina (Norma Argentina 1999).

In New Zealand, as a result of promulgation of the Petroleum Products Specifications Regulations 2002, effective from 1 September 2002 automotive fuel must contain no more than 2.0 mg/L Mn. The background behind this decision is not known. The limitation on Mn content of fuels is to be reviewed by 2006. This law effectively severely restricts the use of MMT in automotive fuels in New Zealand.

b.3Australian perspective

An Australian Standard AS 4430.1 - 1996 (Standards Australia, 1996) exists for the evaluation of devices and additives which claim to improve vehicle performance. Part 1 of AS 4430.1 – 1996 is noteworthy for the present report as it considers engines designed for leaded fuel to operate on unleaded fuels and includes assessment of valve seat recession.

An environmental and epidemiological study of Mn from MMT use is currently being conducted in Australia. The objectives of the project are to determine the contribution of MMT use to Mn levels in air, dust, soil and water and also blood and urine Mn levels in children aged 1-5 years.

b.4Assessments by other national or international bodies