Mammals acrolein

When added to water as an aquatic herbicide, acrolein undergoes rapid decomposition, especially in sunlight. At the same time, it reacts rapidly with amines, alcohols, and mercaptans of aquatic plants, destroying cell structure and killing the plants (Parent et al. 1992). Mammals drinking acrolein-contaminated water rapidly convert acrolein to saturated alcohol compounds because of the low pH in the upper portion of their GI tracts the primary breakdown product is beta-propionaldehyde (USEPA 1980). 

Table 10.4 (continued) Acrolein Effects on Selected Mammals Organism, Route of Administration,... 

Genotoxicity. No studies were located regarding acrolein genotoxicity in humans. Dominant lethality of acrolein observed in mice indicated a genotoxic potential in mammals. The result is supported by in vitro data that showed mutagenic potential of acrolein in bacterial and mammalian cells without metabolic activation. Further studies in animals would be useful to determine the ability of acrolein to induce chromosomal aberrations after exposure. Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes of workers exposed to acrolein would provide an opportunity to assess its genotoxicity in humans. 

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