Xiao-Zhang Yu, J. Gu
Oct 11, 2006
Citations
1
Influential Citations
67
Citations
Journal
Journal of hazardous materials
Abstract
Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a high volume production chemical and the most commonly used gasoline oxygenate. Uptake, metabolism and toxicity of MTBE in trees were investigated in this study. Pre-rooted weeping willows (Salix babylonica L.) were exposed to hydroponic solution spiked with MTBE and incubated at 25.0+/-1 degrees C for 168 h. The normalized relative transpiration (NRT) rate of weeping willows was used to determine toxicity. MTBE and possible intermediate tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) in solution, tissues of aerial parts of plants, and air were analyzed. Results from the toxicity test showed that severe signs of toxicity (the reduction of the NRT >or=35%) were only found at the treatment group with high doses of MTBE 400 mg L(-1). Neither chlorosis of leaves nor large reduction in the NRT was observed at MTBE exposure to weeping willows