| Agent Name |
Acrylonitrile |
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| Alternative Name |
Vinyl cyanide |
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| CAS Number |
107-13-1 |
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| Formula |
C3-H3-N |
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| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Synonyms |
Acrylonitrile monomer; AN; Cyanoethylene; Propenenitrile; 2-Propenenitrile; VCN; Vinyl cyanide; [NIOSH] |
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| Category |
Nitriles |
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| Description |
Colorless to pale-yellow liquid with an unpleasant odor. [Note: Odor can only be detected above the PEL.]; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in the production of acrylic fibers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins, and nitrile resins; used in the past as a fumigant; [ACGIH] Used in the plastics, coatings, and adhesive industries; [Merck Index] |
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| Comments |
It is readily absorbed through GI, pulmonary, and skin routes; it's acute toxicity is due to the release of the cyanide ion in the body; Caused occupational fatalities in the past when it was used as a fumigant; [ACGIH] May cause redness and blisters when spilled on the skin. [ICSC] If left on clothes, can cause reddening of skin; [CHRIS] Allergic contact dermatitis reported in workers producing synthetic fibers; [Kanerva, p. 1126] In reproductive studies of experimental animals, acrylonitrile causes testicular damage and fetal skeletal abnormalities. [Frazier, p. 349-50] A lachrymator; [CHEMINFO] |
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| Restricted |
No longer used as a fumigant in the U.S. [EPA Pesticides] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR - Medical Management |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
2 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
2 ppm, Ceiling(OSHA) = 10 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
85 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH. . The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by Spector [1956] about a rat 4-hour LC50 of 500 ppm [Carpenter et al. 1949]. . . . Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for acrylonitrile is 85 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Schwanecke 1966]. |
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| Vapor Pressure |
83 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
1.6 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
22 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 333 ppm/4 hr |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 1.6 ppm); |
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| Half Life |
Blood: 8 hours; [TDR, p. 50] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR ToxFAQs - Acrylonitrile |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
3: may ignite at ambient temperature |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
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| Lacrimator |
Yes |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| Other Poison |
Chemical Asphyxiant |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Possible Carcinogen |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: ACRYLONITRILE
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