We noticed a publication about acute acrylonitrile poisoning (case report, Texas Medicine 80, 1984) from the U.S. The authors speculate about N-acetylcysteine as antidote after accidental acrylonitrile poisoning. The toxicity of acrylonitrile may not be attributed to the liberation of cyanide. This is the reason to give you information about our studies. We observed in our experiments only minor cyanide liberation and attribute toxicity of acrylonitrile preferably to cyanoethylation of essential SH-groups. In our acute toxicity studies N-acetylcystein was the most efficient antidote. As a consequence of these works (publications enclosed) some official guidelines in West Germany were changed. You will find a brief summary of these guidelines in the paper 'Clinical Toxicology of Acrylonitrile.' We think N-acetylcysteine is much more effective than cyanide antidotes for therapy of accidental acrylonitrile poisoning on work places in the U.S.