Acrylonitrile

Agent Name
Acrylonitrile
Alternative Name
Vinyl cyanide
CAS Number
107-13-1
Formula
C3-H3-N
Major Category
Nitrogen Compounds
Acrylonitrile formula graphical representation
Synonyms
Acrylonitrile monomer; AN; Cyanoethylene; Propenenitrile; 2-Propenenitrile; VCN; Vinyl cyanide; [NIOSH]
Category
Nitriles
Description
Colorless to pale-yellow liquid with an unpleasant odor. [Note: Odor can only be detected above the PEL.]; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used as a monomer in the production of acrylic fibers and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins; Also used to produce adiponitrile; Was used in the past as a fumigant and to make nitrile resins for beverage bottles; [ACGIH] Used in the plastics, coatings, and adhesive industries; [Merck Index]
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. 1746] In reproductive studies of experimental animals, acrylonitrile causes testicular damage and fetal skeletal abnormalities. [Frazier, p. 349-50] ". . . when acrylonitrile exposures were less than those causing overt maternal toxicity, no developmental toxicity was observed." Decreased sperm counts were observed in 30 exposed workers, but the exposures were not quantified. [ACGIH] A lachrymator; [CHEMINFO] "In summary, no mortality outcome of a priori interest, principally respiratory system cancer, is associated with increased AN exposure among fiber production workers over five decades of follow-up." [PMID 18469624] Acrylonitrile, stabilized (UN1093) has warning of explosive polymerization; [ERG 2016] See "NITRILES."
Restricted
No longer used as a fumigant in the U.S. [EPA Pesticides]
Biomedical References

Exposure Assessment

Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Yes
TLV (ACGIH)
2 ppm
PEL (OSHA)
2 ppm, Ceiling(OSHA) = 10 ppm
IDLH (NIOSH)
60 ppm
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].
Vapor Pressure
109 mm Hg
Odor Threshold Low
21.6 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 333 ppm/4 hr
Explosive Polymerization
Yes
Explanatory Notes
The odor threshold was based on results from a panel of human subjects. [ACGIH] VP from HSDB;
Half Life
Blood: 8 hours; [TDR, p. 50]
NFPA
may ignite at ambient temp
ERPG-1
10 ppm
ERPG-2
35 ppm
ERPG-3
75 ppm

Adverse Effects

Skin Sensitizer
Yes
Lachrymator
Yes
Reproductive Toxin
Yes
Dermatotoxin
Skin burns
IARC Carcinogen
Possible (2b)
NTP Carcinogen
Anticipated human carcinogen
ACGIH Carcinogen
Confirmed Animal
Other Poison
Chemical Asphyxiant

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: