‘Wat EPA PROGRAM OFFICES REGULATE ACRYLAMIDE, AND UNDER WHAT LAWS IB IT REGULATED?

EPA Orncr Law PHONE NUMBER
Pollution Prevention & Toxica ‘Tom Substances Control! Act (202) 554-1404
Emergency Planning and Communsty Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA): Regulations (§ 313) (800) 535-0202
Toxics Release Inventory data (202) 260-1531
Ar Clean Arr Act (919) 541-0888
Solid Waste & Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (800) 535-0202
Emergency Response ‘Resource Conservation and Recovery Act / EPCRA (§ 304/311/312)
Water Safe Drinking Water Act (800) 426-4791
A technical support documents available from the TSCA Assistance Information Service, (202) 534-1404.
‘Wut OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES OR GROUPS CAN I CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ON ACRYLAMIDE?
AGENCY/GROUP Prone Numare,
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (513) 742-2020
‘Consumer Product Safety Commision G01) 304-0994
Food and Drug Admmistration (301) 443-3170
Nahonal Institute for Environmental Health Scionces (EnviroHealth Clearinghouse) (800) 643-4794
National Institute for Oocopstional Safety and Health (NIOSH) (800) 356-4674
Occupational Safsty and Health Administration (Check your local phone book under U.S, Department of Labor)
a
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code 7401
Washington, OC 20460
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Chemicals can be released to the envi-
Tronment as a result of their manufacture,
processing, and use The EPA has de-
veloped information summaries on se-
lected chemicals to descnbe how you
might be exposed to these chemicals,
how exposure to them might affect you
and the environment, what happens to
them in the environment, who regulates
them, and whom to contact for additional
information EPA 1s committed to re-
ducing environmental releases of
chemicals through source reduction and
other practices that reduce creation of
pollutants

WHAT IS ACRYLAMIDE, HOW IS
IT USED, AND HOW MIGHT I BE
EXPOSED?

Acrylamide 1s an odorless solid
that exists as flake-like crystals. It does
not occur naturally but 1s produced in
large amounts (100 million pounds in
1992) by three companies in the United
States US demand for acrylamide is
likely to crease dunng the next several
years The largest users of acrylamide are
companies that make polyacrylamide
polymers Companies also use acryla-
mide to make N-butoxyacrylamide and
N-methylolacrylamige Products such as
clanfying agents, adhesives, printing ink
emulsion stabilizers, thickening agents
for agncultural sprays, and water reten-
tion aids can also contain acrylamide

Exposure to acrylamide can oc-
cur im the workplace or in the environ-

ment following releases to ast, water, land, or
groundwater Acrylamide enters the body
when breathed in with contammnated ait or
when consumed with contaminated food or
water It can also be absorbed through skin
contact It ts not likely to remain in the body
due to its removal in urine

‘WHAT HAPPENS TO ACRYLAMIDE
IN THE ENVIRONMENT?

Acrylamide dissolves when mixed
with water Most direct releases of acryla-
mide to the environment are to underground
sites or to air Once in air, acrylamide breaks
down to other chemicals Microorganisms
that live in water and in soil can also break
down acrylamide. Because of its ability to
mix with water and its inability to bind well
to soil, acrylamide that makes its way into the
ground can move through the ground and
enter groundwater, Plants and animals are
not likely to store acrylamide

HOW DOES ACRYLAMIDE AFFECT
HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT?

Effects of acrylamide on human
health and the environment depend on how
much acrylamide 1s present and the length
and frequency of exposure Effects also
depend on the health of a person or the
condition of the environment when exposure
occurs

Exposure to acrylamide for short
penods of time can adversely affect the

human nervous system. Effects range
from drowsiness to incoordination,
hallucinations, and confusion Direct
contact with dissolved acrylamide
imitates the skin Acrylamide dust
imtates the respiratory system These
effects are not likely to occur at levels
of acrylamide that are normally found
in the environment

Human health effects asso-
ciated with breathing or otherwise
consuming small amounts of acry-
lamide over long penods of time are
not known Workers repeatedly ex-
posed to acrylamide have developed
neurologic symptoms such as ab-
normal sensation, muscle weakness,
and incoordination. Laboratory
studies show that repeat exposure to
acrylamide causes similar adverse
nervous system effects in animals
Studies show that repeat exposure to
acrylamide also causes general tox-
icity, adverse blood effects, and ad-
verse reproductive effects in animals
Lifetime exposure to small amounts
of acrylamide in drinking water
causes cancer in animals. Repeat
exposure to acrylamide may likewise
cause cancer in humans

Acrylamide is not likely to
cause environmental harm at levels
normally found in the environment