It has been detected in effluent from a sewage treatment plant. Adsorption to sediment and volatilization is not appreciable. Bacteriologic degradation will likely depend on temperature fluctuations in temperate climates. Environmental contamination may result from disposal on land or from leaching of the residual monomer from polyacrylamides. Thirty-six of these facilities reported releases of acrylamide to the environment which were estimated to total 909,000 lb.
Acrylamide is a toxic pollutant of air and water.
EPA has established rules for regulating hazardous spills, general threshold amounts, and requirements for handling and disposal of wastes. OSHA also regulates acrylamide as a chemical hazard in laboratories under the Hazard Communication Standard.