Preliminary Risk assessment for Acrylamide and Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

Acrylamide (ACM) is a high-volume industrial chemical with diverse uses in manufacturing, construction and laboratory research. ACM is a well-established neurotoxic agent causing peripheral neuropathy with impairment in the arms and legs of exposed workers, most thoroughly studied in Swedish tunnel workers exposed to ACM grouting. A quantitative risk assessment was performed to assess ACM risk to workers. Using data from a published paper investigating peripheral neuropathies in Chinese chemical workers, estimates of exposure response for vibration perception threshold and nerve conduction velocities were calculated, based on hemoglobin adducts and air concentrations as exposure metrics. The benchmark dose procedure was applied in order to calculate excess risks of impairment, defined as adverse performance exceeding the 95th percentile in unexposed populations, at various concentrations of airborne ACM exposure. Under the assumptions in this risk assessment, after three years of inhalation exposure at 0.3 mg/m3, the excess attributable impairment manifest in vibration perception and nerve conduction velocity is estimated to occur in 1-2% of workers. For 10 years at 0.3 mg/m3 ACM inhalation (equivalent to 3 years at 1.0 mg/m3) the excess prevalence of impairment would be 2-14% of workers, assuming the effect continues to accrue linearly in time. Using published data, the risks of impairment from peripheral neuropathy attributable to exclusively airborne ACM exposure can be predicted for exposure periods less than 10 years. The risks associated with dermal and airborne ACM exposures can be estimated by characterizing working process environments using ACM Hb-adduct levels and possibly monitored with urinary biomarkers.