Substance fact sheet
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) provides information on the types and amounts of pollutants being emitted in the Australian community.
This page provides facts about acrylic acid. It describes how you might be exposed to this substance, how exposure might effect you and the environment, common uses, comparative data about acrylic acid and its physical and chemical properties.
For more information about some of the terms used in this page, see the NPI glossary.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of acrylic acid emissions in Australia.
Symptoms of exposure to this compound include irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Corrosion and burns can occur. Eye and lung damage can also occur. Exposure may cause coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. Inhalation may be fatal as a result of spasm, inflammation and swelling of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs). It may cause sensitisation (allergic reaction) and even very small future exposures can cause a rash. Ingestion can lead to pain and burning in the mouth, pharynx and stomach, diarrhoea, fall in blood pressure, asphyxia due to swelling in the throat, and destruction of mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. Skin contact may lead to inflammation, skin rashes and systemic poisoning (if absorbed through the skin).
Acrylic Acid should be handled as a teratogen.
Acrylic acid is absorbed from skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
Products containing acrylic acid include polishes, paints, coatings, rug backings, adhesives, plastics, textiles, and paper.
See Sources for more information.
Worksafe Australia recommends an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit of 2 ppm (5.9 mg/m3)
The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information.
Due to the breakdown of acrylic acid in the environment and its moderate acute toxicity, the chemical would not be expected to be toxic to aquatic or terrestrial animals at levels normally found in the environment. As a volatile organic compound (VOC), acrylic acid can contribute to the formation of photo- chemical smog in the presence of other precursors.
Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Acute (short term) effects are seen two to four days after animals or plants come in contact with a toxic chemical substance. Acrylic acid has slight acute toxicity to aquatic life and high toxicity to birds. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short-term effects of acrylic acid to plants or land animals. Chronic toxic (long term) effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behaviour. Chronic effects can be seen long after first exposure(s) to a toxic chemical.
Because of water solubility and vapour pressure most (about 90%) acrylic acid released to the environment is expected to end up in water. The chemical can be removed from the atmosphere in rain. If released to soil the chemical leaches into groundwater or surface waters. Leaching into ground or surface waters is the major route of removal of acrylic acid from soils due to the chemical's high water solubility and low vapour pressure. Bioaccumulation of acrylic acid is not expected to be significant.
Acrylic acid exists in the atmosphere in the gas phase. The dominant atmospheric loss process for acrylic acid is by reaction with the hydroxyl radical. Based on this reaction, the atmospheric life is only expected to be a few days. In the air acrylic acid reacts with ozone to produces glyoxylic acid and formic acid. Wet and dry deposition of gaseous acrylic acid may also be important.
Acrylic Acid is biodegradable. It is also destroyed by sunlight in surface soils and water. It is slightly persistent in water but will degrade within a few weeks or months.
No national guidelines.
The primary use of acrylic acid is in the production of acrylic esters and resins, which are used primarily in coatings and adhesives. It is also used in oil treatment chemicals, detergent intermediates, water treatment chemicals, and water absorbent polyacrylic acid polymers. Acrylic acid is used widely for polymerization, including production of polyacrylates. It is a monomer for polyacrylic and polymethacrylic acids and other acrylic polymers. It is used in the manufacture of plastics, as a tackifier, as a flocculant, in the production of water-soluble resins and salts, as a comonomer in acrylic emulsion and solution polymers and in molding powder for signs, construction units, decorative emblems and insignias. It is used in polymer solutions for coatings applications, in paint formulations, in leather finishings, in paper coatings, in polishes and adhesives and in general finishes and binders.
Acrylic acid may be released in wastewater and as emissions during its production and use. Acrylic acid is emitted from the production of acrylic acid and acrylate. The primary stationary sources listed in the US are manufacturers of guided missiles and space vehicles, and electronic components and accessories.
Acrylic acid emissions can occur from polishes, paints, coatings, rug backings, adhesives, plastics, textiles, and paper finishes. Acrylic acid has been used as a pesticide.
Acrylic acid is also produced naturally by some species of algae and has been found in the rumen fluid of sheep.
None.
Products containing acrylic acid include polishes, paints, coatings, rug backings, adhesives, plastics, textiles, and paper.
Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A ranking and total hazard score was given based on health and environmental hazards and human and environmental exposure to the substance.
Acrylic acid was ranked as 49 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 2.5.
On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 acrylic acid registers 1.5. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health.
On an environmental rating of 0 - 3 acrylic acid registers 1.0. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.
Factors taken into account to obtain this ranking and these scores include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8. A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.
| Substance name | Acrylic acid |
| CASR number | 79-10-7 |
| Molecular formula | C3H4O2 |
| Synonyms | 2-Propenoic acid, acrylsyre, acide acrylique acido acrilico, acrylzuur, ethylenecarboxylic acid, vinylformic acid, acroleic acid. |
| Physical properties: Acrylic acid is a corrosive, colourless liquid with an acrid odour. Boiling Point:141.0 (°C) |
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| Chemical properties: It is miscible with water, alcohol, ether, benzene, chloroform, and acetone. It polymerizes readily in the presence of oxygen. Exothermic polymerization at room temperature may cause acrylic acid to become explosive if confined. It is sensitive to heat and sunlight. It is normally supplied as the inhibited monomer (inhibited with 200 ppm hydroquinone monomethyl ether), but because of its relatively high freezing point it often partly solidifies and the solid phase (and the vapour) will then be free of the inhibitor which remains in the liquid phase. Even the un-inhibited form may be stored safely below the melting point, but such material will polymerize exothermically at ambient temperature and may accelerate to a violent or explosive state if confined. It is also a fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame. Acrylic acid is incompatible with strong oxidizers, strong bases, strong alkalies and pure nitrogen. It may polymerize (sometimes explosively) on contact with amines, ammonia, oleum and chlorosulfonic acid, iron salts and peroxides. It may corrode iron and steel. |
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There is more information that may be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI.