Acrylonitrile (ACN) is a colorless and volatile liquid with an odor that resembles onions or garlic. It is used in industries that produce rubber, resins, plastics, and synthetic fibers. It is also used to manufacture carbon fibers that are used in aircraft, defense, and aerospace industries.
Symptoms: When exposed to acrylonitrile, humans can experience irritation to the mucus membranes, headaches, nausea, dizziness, impaired judgment, difficulty breathing, limb weakness, cyanosis, convulsions and collapse.
Carcinogenicity: Acrylonitrile is also reasonably anticipated to be carcinogenic to humans as it may be related to an increased risk of lung or prostate cancer (1).
Toxicokinetics:Acrylonitrile can be absorbed into the body via inhalation of its vapors, by ingestion, or topically via the skin or eye.
Target organs include eyes, skin, cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
Mechanism of Action: Acrylonitrile is readily absorbed into systemic circulation following exposure. It is metabolized in one of two ways: glutathione conjugation (produces 2-cyanoethylmercapturic acid) and oxidation of cytochrome P450 (produces 2-cyanoethylene oxide which can then be conjugated to yield cyanide).
Genetic Toxocity: Acrylonitrile is not known to be genetrically toxic but there is some evidence of fetotoxicity in the offspring of rats exposed during pregnancy via inhalation or ingestion, but this was only seen in instances of significant maternal toxicity.
Treatment for cyanide poisoning caused by CAN toxicity is empiric because of how long it take for laboratory confirmation to be processed. Sodium thiosulfate and hydroxocobalmin have been used as antidotes for cyanide poisoning. Immediate first aid would include decontamination of the exposed area and possible intubation is the exposed person is not breathing.
History/Biomarkers: In May of 2013, a train that was transporting chemicals was derailed in Wetteren, Belgium and resulted in a leak of acrylonitrile. That May, 242 residents participated in a study to assess the human exposre of the solvent. N-2 cyanoethylvaline (CEV), a biomarker of ACN exposure, was measured in the participants blood. As there was a potential for CEV to show up In the blood of smokers, cotinine was also measured in the participants urine. In the evacuated spill zone, 37% on non-smokers and 40% of smokers have higher than reference values of CEV in their blood. Because the spill was not cleaned up for 108 days, the CAN seeped into the ground water and 5 wells also shows increased levels of ACN and continues to increase even after the contaminated soil was removed. It took about 170 days for the levels to decrease. In the photo below you can see the train crash and the acrylonitrile fumes moving up into the air (3).
- S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Acrylonitrile. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Acrylonitrile#section=Antidote-and-Emergency-Treatment
- Points, Key. 2007. “Acrylonitrile Toxicological Overview.” : 1–9.
- Paepe, P De et al. 2015. “The Wetteren Acrylonitrile Disaster: Management, Media Communication and Biomarker-Based Screening.”
- Take online courses. earn college credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. Study.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/acrylonitrile-structure-manufacturing-process.html