RUTLAND, Mass. (AP) – State environmental officials closed a Dunkin’ Donuts shop here after high levels of a toxic gasoline additive were found in water used to prepare food and coffee.

The shop was closed Wednesday, immediately after tests by the state Department of Environmental Protection found about 30 times the level of the additive MTBE allowed in state drinking water.

The state tested the water after learning that the store hadn’t obtained a public water supplier permit when it opened two years ago. The doughnut shop is operated in conjunction with a Mobil gasoline station.

Officials said they have no reports of illness from the tainted water, but don’t know how long it was contaminated.

Store owner Joseph Faucher said he’s working to quickly fix the problem, and added he was unaware of the permit requirement. He said he never noticed any unusual taste or odor to the water and no customers ever complained.

MTBE is considered a possible carcinogen. Levels of 2,000 parts per billion were found at the store, compared to the state guideline for safe drinking water of 70 parts per billion. MTBE advisories used by the state predict adverse effects after drinking a liter of water with 10,500 parts per billion of MBTE daily for two weeks to seven years.

AP-ES-02-06-04 0849EST