Flammability and Toxicity Tradeoffs with Methanol Fuels

This paper describes the flammability and human toxicity concerns of pure methanol (M100) and an 85 percent methanol/15 percent gasoline blend (M85). These safety characteristics of M100 and M85 are compared with each other, as well as with those of diesel fuel and gasoline. Discussion focuses on data which are available, as well as on more subjective evaluations based on fuel properties since in use information is often limited. A complete assessment of fuel safety should also take into account the emissions impacts of these fuels, but this discussion is not included here as it is covered in considerable detail in other reports published by EPA authors.(1,2,3,4)*