Acrolein is a volatile, highly flammable liquid with irritating,
Suffocating bad smell. It is a very active compound.
World production of isolated acrolein is estimated at
In 1975 it was 59,000 tons. Larger amounts of acrolein are
Production and consumption as an intermediate in the synthesis of acrylic acid
acids and their esters.
The analytical method can be used for the determination of acrolein in various media. The lowest reported detection limits were 0.1 µg/m3 air (GC/MS), 0.1 µg/L water (HPLC), 2.8 µg/L biological media (fluorescence),
590 μg/kg fish (GC/MS), and
1.4 μg/m3 exhaust gas (high pressure liquid chromatography).
Acrolein detected in some plant and animal sources
Includes food and beverages. The substance is mainly used for
Chemical synthesis intermediates, also used as aquatic biocides.
Emissions of acrolein may occur at production or use sites.
Significant acrolein emissions to air come from incomplete
Combustion or pyrolysis of organic materials such as fuels,
Synthetic polymers, food and tobacco. Acrolein may comprise 3-10%
Total aldehydes in automobile exhaust. Yield of smoking a cigarette
3-228 micrograms of acrolein. Acrolein is a product of photochemical oxidation
Specified organic air pollutants.
Exposure of the general population will primarily occur in
Air. Oral exposure may occur through alcoholic beverages or heat
food.
Average levels of acrolein were measured in urban air up to about 15 μg/m3, with peaks up to 32 μg/m3.
Ten to a hundred times higher levels may occur near industry and near exhaust pipes. Due to fires, extremely high air concentrations in the mg/m3 range may be found. In indoor air, one cigarette per cubic meter of room space was found in 10-13 minutes
Resulting in acrolein vapor concentrations of 450-840 μg/m3. Workplace concentrations in excess of 1000 µg/m3 have been reported in situations involving heating of organic materials, such as welding or heating organic materials.
Acrolein passes through the atmosphere with
Hydroxyl radicals. The atmospheric residence time is about one day.
In surface waters, acrolein dissipates within a few days. Acrolein has
Soil adsorption potential is low. aerobic and anaerobic
Reported degradation, although toxic
Compound may prevent biodegradation by microorganisms. based on
Due to its physical and chemical properties, bioaccumulation of acrolein is not expected to occur.
