甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE）因其强烈的味道和气味效应、对人类健康的潜在风险、在地下水中快速迁移的趋势以及对传统水处理工艺的抵抗力而受到饮用水供应行业的关注。1997年至1998年进行了一次发生率调查，以评估地表和地下饮用水供应中MTBE的流行情况。调查调查了17个州的342口井，30口井中至少检测到一次MTBE（约8.7%）。最高浓度（25。 在已知汽油泄漏的下游检测到1 ug/L）。曝气去除了高达76%的低浓度MTBE，但活性炭吸附相对无效。包括37个参考文献、表格、图表。

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is of concern to the drinking water supply profession because of its strong taste and odor effects, potential risk to human health, tendency to migrate rapidly in groundwater, and resistance to conventional water treatment processes. An occurrence survey was performed from 1997 to 1998 to assess the prevalence of MTBE in surface and subsurface drinking water supplies. The survey examined 342 wells in 17 states, and MTBE was detected at least once in 30 wells (~8.7 percent). The highest concentration (25.1 ug/L) was detected downstream from a known gasoline release. Aeration removed up to 76 percent of low concentrations of MTBE, but activated carbon adsorption was relatively ineffective. Includes 37 references, tables, figures.