1990年《联邦清洁空气法》修正案规定，加利福尼亚州必须使用燃料氧化物来促进更清洁的排放。甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE）是最常用的含氧化合物。由于附近泄漏的地下燃料箱的污染，在地下水井中检测到大量MTBE。MTBE极易溶于水，不易挥发，且无法通过常规处理技术去除，因此，一旦污染水源，就会对消费者产生重大影响。美国环保局已经为MTBE发布了一份70 ug/L的终生健康建议草案，然而，报告的MTBE味觉和气味（T&O）阈值远低于此值。虽然没有单一浓度的MTBE会在每个人身上引发相同的T&O认知，但饮用水社区希望确定消费者接受的阈值。在这项研究中，风味剖面分析技术被用于评估饮用水中MTBE的潜在美学效果。 讨论了三个感兴趣的领域:确定统计阈值；建立剂量/反应关系；以及MTBE T&O特性的定义。

The use of fuel oxygenates in California to promote cleaner emissions was mandated by the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments. Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is the most commonly used oxygenate. Significant levels of MTBE have been detected in groundwater wells as a result of contamination from nearby leaking underground fuel tanks. MTBE is highly soluble in water, does not volatilize readily and is not removed by conventional treatment techniques so that, once it contaminates a water supply, it presents significant implications for consumers. A draft lifetime health advisory of 70 ug/L has been issued for MTBE by the EPA, however, reported taste and odor (T&O) thresholds for MTBE are much lower than this. While no single concentration of MTBE will elicit the same T&O perception in everyone, the drinking water community would like to determine a threshold of consumer acceptance. In this study, the Flavor Profile Analysis technique was used to assess the potential aesthetic effects of MTBE in drinking water. Three areas of interest were addressed: determination of a statistical threshold; establishment of a dose/response relationship; and, definition of the T&O characteristics of MTBE.