Acrylamide: Environmental effects
Description
Acute (short term) toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Acrylamide has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life. Chronic (longer term) toxic 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. Acrylamide has moderate chronic toxicity to aquatic life. No data are available on the long-term effects of acrylamide to plants, birds, or land animals.
Entering the environment
Most acrylamide is expected to end up in water including leaching from soil into ground water. Acrylamide is highly mobile in aqueous environments, readily leaches into soil, and is carried great distances in ground water of deep rock aquifers.
Where it ends up
Acrylamide vapours are expected to react in sunlight to produce hydroxyl radicals in the atmosphere. It is also expected to be dissolved in rain and fog due to its high solubility in water.
Acrylamide is biodegradable in surface water and sediments but may not biodegrade in groundwater. Bioconcentration of acrylamide is unlikely because it degrades easily in surface waters and is highly water soluble. Acrylamide is slightly persistent in the aquatic environments.
Environmental guidelines
No national guidelines.
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