. "Appendix B: Laboratory Chemical Safety Summaries." Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 1995.
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Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals
LABORATORY CHEMICAL SAFETY SUMMARY: ACRYLAMIDE
Substance
Acrylamide
(2-Propeneamide, vinyl amide)
CAS 79-06-1
Formula
H2C = CH-CONH2
Physical Properties
Colorless crystals
bp 125 °C (25 mmHg), mp 85 °C
Soluble in water (216 g/100 mL)
Odor
Odorless solid
Toxicity Data
LD50 oral (rat)
124 mg/kg
LD50 skin (rat)
400 mg/kg
PEL (OSHA)
0.3 mg/m3—skin
TLV-TWA (ACGIH)
0.03 mg/m3—skin
Major Hazards
Suspected human carcinogen (OSHA "select carcinogen") and neurotoxin.
Toxicity
The acute toxicity of acrylamide is moderate by ingestion or skin contact. Skin exposure leads to redness and peeling of the skin of the palms. Aqueous acrylamide solutions cause eye irritation; exposure to a 50% solution of acrylamide caused slight corneal injury and slight conjunctival irritation, which healed in 8 days.
The chronic toxicity of acrylamide is high. Repeated exposure to ~2 mg/kg per day may result in neurotoxic effects, including unsteadiness, muscle weakness, and numbness in the feet (leading to paralysis of the legs), numbness in the hands, slurred speech, vertigo, and fatigue. Exposure to slightly higher repeated doses in animal studies has induced multisite cancers and reproductive effects, including abortion, reduced fertility, and mutagenicity. Acrylamide is listed in IARC Group 2B ("possible human carcinogen") and is classified as a "select carcinogen" under the criteria of the OSHA Laboratory Standard.
Flammability and Explosibility
The volatility of acrylamide is low (0.03 mmHg at 40 °C), and it does not pose a significant flammability hazard.
Reactivity and Incompatibility
May polymerize violently on strong heating or exposure to strong base. Acrylamide may react violently with strong oxidizers.
Storage and Handling
Because of its carcinogenicity and neurotoxicity, acrylamide should be handled using the "basic prudent practices" of Chapter 5.C, supplemented by the additional precautions for work with compounds of high chronic toxicity (Chapter 5.D). In particular, this substance should be handled only when wearing appropriate impermeable gloves to prevent skin contact, and all operations that have the potential of producing acrylamide dusts or aerosols of solutions should be conducted in a fume hood to prevent exposure by inhalation.
