skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: NIOH and NIOSH basis for an occupational health standard. Acrylamide: A review of the literature

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5815566

Information on acrylamide (79061) was reviewed as a basis for the development of an occupational health standard. Topics included: chemical properties, physical properties, production levels, uses, the potential for occupational exposure, occupational exposure limits, toxicology, methods for monitoring exposures, and adverse health effects from exposure. Acrylamide is a raw material used in the manufacture of polyacrylamides. It is an odorless, white, crystalline solid. The potential for occupational exposure to acrylamide exists in acrylamide manufacturing and processing, grouting operations, and research and analytical laboratories. The monomeric form has been found to be toxic, but tests have shown the polyacrylamide products to be generally nontoxic. Possible hazards include neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and harmful effects to the reproductive system. Studies have confirmed that exposure to acrylamide can cause cancer and reproductive disorders in animals. However, epidemiological data are not available to confirm these findings in human workers.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Atlanta, GA (United States)
OSTI ID:
5815566
Report Number(s):
PB-92-133222/XAB; DHHS/PUB/NIOSH-91-115
Resource Relation:
Other Information: See also PB86-117744, PB88-124086, and PB88-170824. Prepared in cooperation with National Board of Occupational Safety and Health, Solna (Sweden)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English