Acrolein toxicity

Beauchamp RO Jr, Andjelkovich DA, Kligerman AD, et al A critical review of the literature on acrolein toxicity. Crit Rev Toxicol 14 309-380, 1985... 

The respiratory system is the primary target of acrolein toxicity, although dermal and ocular effects also occur. Acute exposure to acrolein results in irritation to the upper respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. Few other organ systems have been shown to exhibit significant effects from exposure. 

Oxidation products are acrolein (toxic, flammable) and acrylic acid (strong irritant). Reactions with hydrogen halides produce strongly toxic allyl halides allyl iodide is... 

Dogterom, P., G. J. Mulder, and J. F. NageUcerke. 1988. Allyl alcohol and acrolein toxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes is independent of lipid peroxidation. Arcl . Toxicol. Suppl. 12 269-73 cited in Chem. Abstr. CA 110(1) 52457p. 

Dore, M., L. Atzori, and L. Congiu. 1986. Protection by sulfur compounds against acrolein toxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes. IRCS Med. Sci. 14(6) 595-96. 

Acrolein is a highly toxic material with extreme lacrimatory properties. At room temperature acrolein is a Hquid with volatiUty and flammabiUty somewhat similar to acetone but unlike acetone, its solubiUty in water is limited. Commercially, acrolein is always stored with hydroquinone and acetic acid as inhibitors. Special care in handling is required because of the flammabiUty, reactivity, and toxicity of acrolein. 

Acrolein is highly toxic by skin absorption. Brief contact may result in the absorption of harmful and possibly fatal amounts of material. Skin contact causes severe local irritation and chemical bums. Poly(vinyl chloride) coated protective gloves should be used (99). 

Flammability Acrolein is very flammable its flash point is <0° C, but a toxic vapor cloud will develop before a flammable one. The flammable limits in air are 2.8% and 31.0% lower and upper explosive limits, respectively by volume. Acrolein is only partly soluble in water and will cause a floating fire, so alcohol type foam should be used in firefighting. The vapors are heavier than air and can travel along the ground and flash back from an ignition source. 

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) Tide III requires emergency planning based on threshold planning quantities (TPQ) and release reporting based on RQs in 40 CER part 355 (used for SARA 302, 303, and 304). The TPQ for acrolein is 500 lb (227 kg), and its RQ is 1 lb (0.454 kg). SARA also requires submission of aimual reports of release of toxic chemicals that appear on the Hst in 40 CER 372.65 (for SARA 313). Acrolein appears on that Hst. This information must be included in all MSDSs that are copied and distributed for acrolein. 

There is a significant difference in the toxicological effects of saturated and unsaturated afiphatic aldehydes. As can be seen in Table 6, the presence of the double bond considerably enhances toxicity. The precautions for handling reactive unsaturated aldehydes such as acrolein, methacrolein [78-85-3] and crotonaldehyde should be the same as those for handling other highly active eye and pulmonary irritants, as, for example, phosgene. 

LLDPE can present a certain health hazard when it bums, since smoke, fumes, and toxic decomposition products are sometimes formed in the process. Exposure to burning LLDPE can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes of the nose and throat due to the presence of acrolein and formaldehyde (81). Toxicity of LLDPE pyrolysis products depends on temperature, heating rate, and the sample size (82—84). 

This is not the case in most fires where some oi the intermediate produces, formed when large, complex molecules are broken up, persist. Examples are hydrogen cyanide from wool and silk, acrolein from vegetable oils, acetic acid from timber or paper, and carbon or carbon monoxide from the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials. As the fire develops and becomes hotter, many of these intermediates, which are often toxic, are destroyed—for example, hydrogen cyanide is decomposed at about 538°C (1000°F). 

Several chemical compounds may cause inflammation or constriction of the blood vessel wall (vasoconstriction). Ergot alkaloids at high doses cause constriction and thickening of the vessel wall. Allylamine may also induce constriction of coronary arteries, thickening of their smooth muscle walls, and a disease state that corresponds to coronary heart disease. The culprit is a toxic reactive metabolite of allylamine, acrolein, that binds covalently to nucleophilic groups of proteins and nucleic acids in the cardiac myocytes. 

Comparing NFPA data for acrolein and methylvinylketone leads to the conclusion that transport regulations for aldehyde favour toxicity over the polymerisable character (336 instead of 339). 

Caution Acrolein is highly toxic and a lachrymator. Handle in a well-ventilated fume hood ... 

Mesna -thiol uroprotectant (binds and inactivates toxic metabolite acrolein) -nausea and vomiting -rash -headache -fatigue and lethargy ... 

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