IRIS Toxicological Review of Acrylamide (External Review Draft)
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Abstract
EPA has conducted a peer review by EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) of the scientific basis supporting the human health hazard and dose-response assessment of acrylamide that once finalized will appear on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. Peer review is meant to ensure that the science is used credibly and appropriately in derivation of the dose-response assessments and toxicological characterization.
The draft Toxicological Review of Acrylamide provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard identification and dose-response assessment pertaining to a chronic exposure to acrylamide.
Acrylamide is a chemical used in the production of polyacrylamide polymers. Polyacrylamides are used as a flocculent in water purification, oil recovery, and soil conditioning and stabilization. Other uses include paper making, adhesion-promotion, dye acceptors, and textile additives. Human exposure to acrylamide had been thought to occur primarily in the workplace from dermal contact and inhalation of dust and vapor, with the general public being potentially exposed to low levels of acrylamide primarily through contaminated drinking water.
In addition, the draft toxicological review notes that cigarette smoke (direct and secondary) is another exposure route. In early 2002, Swedish scientists reported high concentrations of acrylamide in certain fried, baked, and deep-fried foods. Subsequent research demonstrated that acrylamide forms de novo during processing of some foods, especially during high temperature cooking of carbohydrate-rich foods that contain asparagine.
This assessment contains the derivation of a chronic reference dose (RfD) and a chronic reference concentration (RfC) for non-cancer effects, as well as an oral slope factor and an inhalation unit risk for carcinogenic effects.
The draft Toxicological Review of Acrylamide provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard identification and dose-response assessment pertaining to a chronic exposure to acrylamide.
Acrylamide is a chemical used in the production of polyacrylamide polymers. Polyacrylamides are used as a flocculent in water purification, oil recovery, and soil conditioning and stabilization. Other uses include paper making, adhesion-promotion, dye acceptors, and textile additives. Human exposure to acrylamide had been thought to occur primarily in the workplace from dermal contact and inhalation of dust and vapor, with the general public being potentially exposed to low levels of acrylamide primarily through contaminated drinking water.
In addition, the draft toxicological review notes that cigarette smoke (direct and secondary) is another exposure route. In early 2002, Swedish scientists reported high concentrations of acrylamide in certain fried, baked, and deep-fried foods. Subsequent research demonstrated that acrylamide forms de novo during processing of some foods, especially during high temperature cooking of carbohydrate-rich foods that contain asparagine.
This assessment contains the derivation of a chronic reference dose (RfD) and a chronic reference concentration (RfC) for non-cancer effects, as well as an oral slope factor and an inhalation unit risk for carcinogenic effects.
Impact/Purpose
The draft Toxicological Review of Acrylamide provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard identification and dose-response assessment pertaining to a chronic exposure to acrylamide.
Status
Following the External Peer Review, the final assessment will be published on the IRIS database.
Citation
U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Acrylamide (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-07/009A.
History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Jul 2004 | EPA completes the initial draft document for the Toxicological Review of Acrylamide. |
| Nov 2006 | EPA completes Internal Agency Review. |
| Nov 2007 | EPA completes Inter-Agency Review. |
| Dec 2007 | EPA releases the External Review Draft for public comment and review. |
| Feb 2008 | SAB announces in a February 1, 2008 Federal Register Notice a public teleconference to be held on Feb 20, 2008 with a face-to-face meeting March 10 -12, 2008. |
| Dec 2008 | SAB finalizes their review report of the Toxicological Review of Acrylamide. |
| Oct 2009 | EPA completes second Internal EPA and Interagency Review. |
| Jan 2010 | EPA completes external letter peer consultation of methodology used to derive the internal dose. |
| Mar 2010 | EPA releases the comments from the public comment period and external review workshop. |
Additional Information
Comments on the assessment may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov Web site. From the site, select Environmental Protection Agency and the key word EPA- HQ-ORD-2007-1141 (for the docket ID).
This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.