Chemical Listed Effective February 25, 2011 as Known to the State of California to Cause Reproductive Toxicity: Acrylamide

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) within the California Environmental Protection Agency is adding acrylamide (CAS No. 79-06-1) to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 651). The listing of acrylamide is effective February 25, 2011.

Acrylamide is being listed as a chemical known to the State of California to cause developmental and male reproductive toxicity. The listing of acrylamide is based on formal identification by two authoritative bodies2, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Toxicology Program’s Center for Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (NTP-CERHR), that the chemical causes developmental and male reproductive toxicity. The criteria used by OEHHA for the listing of chemicals under the “authoritative bodies” mechanism can be found in Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25306.

A Notice of Intent to List acrylamide was published in the February26,2010 issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 2010, No.9‑Z). That Notice includes the documentation supporting OEHHA’s determination that the criteria for administrative listing have been satisfied for this chemical.

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking identifying a proposed Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) for acrylamide was released concurrently with the Notice of Intent to List Acrylamide on February 26, 2010. No comments were received during the 45-day public comment period. The final rulemaking package has been submitted to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for approval. A final decision is expected from OAL in the near future.

Reproductive toxicity:

Chemical

CAS No.

Toxicological Endpoint

Listing Mechanism3

Acrylamide

79-06-1

developmental
male reproductive

AB (NIOSH/NTP-CERHR)

Footnotes and References

1 Health and Safety Code, section 25249.5 et seq.

2 See Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(b) and Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., Section 25306.

3 Listing mechanism: AB-“authoritative bodfies” mechanism (Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs. Section 25306).