Study Says Methanol Safer for the Environment than Gasoline
28 January 1999
Study Says Methanol Safer for the Environment than Gasoline; Methanol Video to Premiere WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- A study by the environmental
engineering firm Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. finds far fewer environmental threats
from using methanol in fuel cell vehicles, compared to gasoline's use for
internal combustion engines. In addition, a video presentation on methanol
and the environment produced by the Public Interest Video Network will be
premiered at "The Road to Fuel Cell Vehicles: A National Forum" being held on
February 4th and 5th at the Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C.
The Malcolm Pirnie study prepared for the American Methanol Institute
(AMI) and titled, "Evaluation of the Fate and Transport of Methanol in the
Environment," reviewed the chemical and physical properties of methanol and
then examined the fate of methanol in the environment under several potential
release scenarios, such as a surface water spill or leaks from an underground
storage tank. The researchers also conducted an extensive review of the
literature on methanol toxicity, as well as methanol spill remediation and
treatment technologies.
"Our study on the fate and transport of methanol in the environment showed
that, relative to gasoline and its constituents like benzene, methanol will
likely have far fewer adverse impacts on the environment," said Dr. Michael C.
Kavanaugh, P.E., Vice President of Malcolm Pirnie. "This is due to the
inherent properties of the chemical: it is capable of completely mixing with
water; degrades quickly in the atmosphere; and -- most importantly -- will
rapidly biodegrade in surface waters and underground. Generally, methanol is
less toxic to humans than gasoline, and is neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic.
When you add all of this up, the overall threat to human health and the
environment of methanol is likely to be far less than conventional gasoline,
under equivalent release or spill scenarios."
Methanol, a widely used industrial chemical since the 1800s, is considered
by the world's major automakers to be an ideal hydrogen carrier for fuel cell
vehicles. AMI has estimated that by 2010, a fleet of two million fuel cell
vehicles could demand over 880 million gallons of methanol per year, creating
a need for expansion of the methanol refueling infrastructure. Given the
expected increase in methanol production, transportation, storage and use,
there will be a potential for accidental releases to the environment.
Compared to crude oil or gasoline, the study found that methanol is a safer
and more environmentally benign fuel, so that releases would be far less
damaging to the environment.
The researchers found that a large methanol spill into a surface water
would have some immediate impacts to the biota in the direct vicinity of the
spill. However, in contrast to a crude oil ocean spill, methanol rapidly
dissipates into the environment, reaching low concentration levels where
biodegration will occur quickly. Under another scenario, if methanol were to
leak from an underground storage tank, rapid biodegradation is expected to
occur under both aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen)
subsurface conditions. Hazards from gasoline leaks are greater than those of
methanol, because gasoline and many of its constituents biodegrade slower and
will persist longer in the environment.
Based on an extensive literature review, the study reports that methanol
is neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic. The evidence shows that acute toxic
effects on humans from methanol only occur at high doses. The U.S. Department
of Energy considers gasoline to be "overall more hazardous to human health
than methanol."
"We all know that methanol fuel cell vehicles will offer significant air
quality and global warming benefits," said AMI President and CEO John Lynn.
"This study proves that the environmental benefits of using methanol extend
well beyond the fuel cell vehicle. Compared to conventional gasoline,
methanol is less polluting to water, less toxic, does not cause cancer, and is
much safer to use. Methanol really is the clear alternative."
The American Methanol Institute has prepared a 12-minute video
presentation titled, "The Clear Alternative: Methanol Fuel Cell Vehicles and
the Environment." Produced by the Public Interest Video Network, the video
includes interviews with: Dr. Ferdinand Panik of DaimlerChrysler; Jason Mark
of the Union of Concerned Scientists; Lois Epstein of the Environmental
Defense Fund; and Jim Larkins of Georgetown University. The video features
footage of DaimlerChrysler's methanol fuel cell vehicle, NECAR 3, and
highlights the use of methanol at the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant
in Washington, D.C. to accelerate the biodegradation of nitrogen prior to
discharge into Chesapeake Bay.
Both the report and the video are available from the American Methanol
Institute by calling 1-888-275-0768. Registration information for AMI's
February 4th and 5th "The Road to Fuel Cell Vehicles" conference is also
available by calling this toll-free phone number.
