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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Acrylamide 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2009 

This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for Acrylamide. It is 

one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous substances and their health effects. A shorter 

version, the ToxFAQsTM, is also available. This information is important because this substance may 

harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you 

are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present. For more information, 

call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-800-232-4636. 

This public health statement tells you about acrylamide and the effects of exposure to it. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in the 

nation. These sites are then placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for long-term 

federal clean-up activities. Acrylamide has been found in at least 3 of the 1,699 current or former NPL 

sites. Although the total number of NPL sites evaluated for this substance is not known, the possibility 

exists that the number of sites at which acrylamide is found may increase in the future as more sites are 

evaluated. This information is important because these sites may be sources of exposure and exposure to 

this substance may be harmful. 

When a substance is released either from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container, 

such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. Such a release does not always lead to exposure. You 

can be exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it. You may be exposed by breathing, 

eating, or drinking the substance, or by skin contact. 

If you are exposed to acrylamide, many factors will determine whether you will be harmed. These factors 

include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you come in contact with it. You must 

also consider any other chemicals you are exposed to and your age, sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle, and 

state of health. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Acrylamide 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2009 

1.1 WHAT IS ACRYLAMIDE? 

White or colorless, 

odorless crystalline 

solid 

Acrylamide can violently react when melting. When heated, acrid 

fumes may be released. 

Used in industry Acrylamide is used to make polyacrylamide, which is mainly used in 

treating effluent from water treatment plants and industrial processes. 

1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO ACRYLAMIDE WHEN IT ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT?
 

Most commonly found 

in water 

Acrylamide may enter drinking water if polyacrylamide is used in the 

treatment process. It can be found in soils, but is rarely found in air. 

Rapidly broken down 

in soil and water 

If acrylamide enters soil or water, it will be broken down quickly by 

bacteria. 

1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO ACRYLAMIDE?
 

Water and soil Drinking water can sometimes contain acrylamide. It can enter drinking 

water from the treatment process of municipal supplies as well as from 

substances used to construct dams and wells. Acrylamide breaks 

down quickly in water and soil, but there is still a chance of exposure if 

you live near a plastics or dye plants. 

Inhalation and dermal 

contact 

If you smoke, or breathe second-hand tobacco smoke, you might be 

exposed to acrylamide. Tobacco smoke is a major source of 

acrylamide exposure within the general population. People involved in 

the production or use of acrylamide and acrylamide-containing products 

are exposed if they breathe in air that contains acrylamide. They may 

also be exposed by coming into skin contact with acrylamide. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Acrylamide 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2009 

Food Acrylamide is formed in foods that are rich in carbohydrates (particularly 

potatoes) when they are fried, grilled, or baked at normal cooking 

temperatures. Levels of acrylamide in these foods increase with higher 

temperatures and longer cooking times. Protein-based foods (such as 

meats) probably contain low amounts of acrylamide. Ingestion of foods 

that contain acrylamide is a primary source of exposure. 

1.4 HOW CAN ACRYLAMIDE ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY?
 

May enter your body 

through food, drinking 

water, breathing, and 

skin contact 

Acrylamide can enter your body when you eat foods containing 

acrylamide. Drinking water that contains acrylamide will have a similar 

effect. Breathing tobacco smoke may cause some level of acrylamide 

to enter your lungs. Acrylamide can also enter your body if it comes in 

contact with your skin. Dermal contact with acrylamide can occur if you 

work in the manufacture of acrylamide or polyacrylamide gels. 

Leaves through bodily 

fluids 

Once in your body, acrylamide enters your body fluids. Acrylamide and 

its breakdown products leave your body mostly through urine; small 

amounts may leave through feces, exhaled air, and breast milk. 

1.5 HOW CAN ACRYLAMIDE AFFECT MY HEALTH? 

This section looks at studies concerning potential health effects in animal and human studies. 

Nervous system 

effects 

Nervous system effects such as muscle weakness, numbness in hands 

and feet, sweating, unsteadiness, and clumsiness were reported in 

some acrylamide workers. However, most people are not exposed to 

acrylamide levels high enough to cause these effects. 

Reproductive effects Acrylamide reduces the ability of male animals to produce offspring and 

could cause similar effects in humans, but not likely at exposure levels 

experienced by most people. 

Cancer Acrylamide has caused several types of cancer in animals. We do not 

know whether acrylamide causes cancer in humans. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Acrylamide 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2009 

1.6 HOW CAN ACRYLAMIDE AFFECT CHILDREN? 

This section discusses potential health effects in humans from exposures during the period from 

conception to maturity at 18 years of age. 

Effects in children Acrylamide is expected to affect children in the same manner as adults. 

It is not known whether children are more susceptible than adults to the 

effects of acrylamide. 

Developmental effects Effects such as decreased body weight, decreased startle responses, 

and decreased levels of some chemicals involved in transmission of 

brain signals were seen in some animals exposed to acrylamide before 

or shortly following birth. There are no reports of acrylamide causing 

developmental effects in humans. 

1.7 HOW CAN FAMILIES REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO ACRYLAMIDE?
 

Limit exposure to 

tobacco and secondhand smoke 

Tobacco smoke contains acrylamide. Avoid smoking or breathing in 

second-hand smoke. 

Reduce consumption 

of foods that contain 

acrylamide 

Avoid eating a lot of carbohydrate-rich foods that are cooked at high 

temperatures (e.g., French fries). Foods with higher protein content 

appear to have lower amounts of acrylamide. Avoid overcooking foods. 

1.8 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO 

ACRYLAMIDE? 

Can be measured in 

blood and urine 

Acrylamide and its breakdown products can be measured in blood and 

urine. These measurements may be useful in estimating how much 

acrylamide has entered the body. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Acrylamide 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine	 September 2009 

1.9 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO 

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH? 

The federal government develops regulations and recommendations to protect public health. Regulations 

can be enforced by law. The EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are some federal agencies that develop regulations for toxic 

substances. Recommendations provide valuable guidelines to protect public health, but cannot be 

enforced by law. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National 

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are two federal organizations that develop 

recommendations for toxic substances. 

Regulations and recommendations can be expressed as “not-to-exceed” levels. These are levels of a toxic 

substance in air, water, soil, or food that do not exceed a critical value. This critical value is usually based 

on levels that affect animals; they are then adjusted to levels that will help protect humans. Sometimes 

these not-to-exceed levels differ among federal organizations because they used different exposure times 

(an 8-hour workday or a 24-hour day), different animal studies, or other factors. 

Recommendations and regulations are also updated periodically as more information becomes available. 

For the most current information, check with the federal agency or organization that provides it. 

Some regulations and recommendations for acrylamide include the following: 

Levels in drinking 

water set by EPA 

The EPA has determined that exposure to acrylamide in drinking water 

at concentrations of 1.5 mg/L for one day or 0.3 mg/L for 10 days is not 

expected to cause any adverse effects in a child. 

Levels in workplace 

air set by OSHA 

OSHA set a legal limit of 0.3 mg/m3 for acrylamide in air averaged over 

an 8-hour work day. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Acrylamide 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2009 

1.10 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? 

If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or 

environmental quality department, or contact ATSDR at the address and phone number below. 

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics 

specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses that result from exposure to hazardous 

substances. 

Toxicological profiles are also available on-line at www.atsdr.cdc.gov and on CD-ROM. You may 

request a copy of the ATSDR ToxProfilesTM CD-ROM by calling the toll-free information and technical 

assistance number at 1-800-CDCINFO (1-800-232-4636), by e-mail at cdcinfo@cdc.gov, or by writing 

to: 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine
 

1600 Clifton Road NE
 

Mailstop F-62
 

Atlanta, GA 30333
 

Fax: 1-770-488-4178
 

Organizations for-profit may request copies of final Toxicological Profiles from the following: 

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
 

5285 Port Royal Road
 

Springfield, VA 22161
 

Phone: 1-800-553-6847 or 1-703-605-6000
 

Web site: http://www.ntis.gov/
 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov