Uses and Hazards of Acrylamide

Acrylamide is the raw material for the production of polyacrylamide. Uses of acrylamide: water purification treatment, pulp processing and internal coating of pipelines, etc. The following are the uses and hazards of acrylamide provided by Douwin.

1. The use of acrylamide

(1) The acrylamide uses are involved in many fields. Acrylamide is mainly used to prepare water-soluble polymers, and this polyacrylamide can be used as an additive to improve oil recovery. It is also used as flocculant, thickening agent and paper making aid.

(2) Some chemical plants that produce acrylamide use it to make additives. A small amount of acrylamide is used to introduce the hydrophilic center into the lipophilic polymer to improve the viscosity, increase the softening point and increase the solvent resistance of the resin. And it can introduce a center for the color acceptance of the dye.

(3) Acrylamide is often used as a component of photopolymer.

(4) In addition, acrylamide can also be used in the production of intermediates for medicines, dyes, and coatings.

2. The harm of acrylamide

Acrylamide is moderately toxic and has a certain irritating effect on the eyes and skin. It can be absorbed by the human body through various ways such as skin mucous membrane, respiratory tract and digestive tract. Acrylamide is absorbed fastest through the digestive tract and is widely distributed in various tissues of the body, including breast milk. Once acrylamide enters the human body, it will be quickly absorbed by the digestive organs, and about half of it will be excreted in the urine after a few hours. The rest is accumulated in the body and mainly affects the nervous system, but acute poisoning is very rare.

Close and large exposure to acrylamide can cause subacute poisoning, manifested as lethargy, cerebellar dysfunction, and motor sensory peripheral neuropathy. Long-term low-concentration exposure can cause chronic poisoning, headache, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, finger tingling, and numbness. It is also accompanied by redness of the palms, desquamation, and sweaty palms and feet, and further development will cause weakness, muscle pain, and cerebellar dysfunction. So the acrylamide manufacturer should equip workers with protective tools.

As early as 1994, the International Agency for Research on Cancer listed acrylamide as a possible human carcinogen. Animal experiments have proved that acrylamide has mutagenic effects and can cause genetic mutations and chromosomal abnormalities in mammalian somatic cells and germ cells. Acrylamide can cause tumors in many organs of rats, such as breast, thyroid, testis, and adrenal gland tumors.

3. Control and prevention of acrylamide

Occupational contacts should reduce the concentration of acrylamide in the air in the workplace by reforming the process and adopting engineering and technical measures. At the same time, by strengthening personal protection, such as wearing masks, gloves, protective clothing and shoes, etc., prevent or reduce the entry of acrylamide into the body.