Acrylonitrile

Overview

[UPDATE] New Schedule for IRIS Acrylonitrile Assessment

In May 2012, EPA developed a new schedule for completing the IRIS acrylonitrile assessment. Acrylonitrile is primarily used in the manufacture of acrylic and modacrylic fibers, plastics, and nitrile rubbers. It is also used as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals.

EPA has decided to make further revisions to the acrylonitrile assessment to more fully address scientific issues in the assessment. The revised draft acrylonitrile assessment will be released for public comment and rigorous, independent expert peer review. EPA will seek to have the peer review performed by the new Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee that is being formed under the auspices of the Science Advisory Board.

Background

The draft Toxicological Review of Acrylonitrile provides scientific support and rationale for the hazard and dose-response assessment pertaining to chronic exposure to acrylonitrile. Acrylonitrile is widely used in the production of acrylic fibers, plastics (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and acrylonitrile-styrene resins), and nitrile rubbers, and as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals.

History/Chronology

Date	Description
Sep 1987	The cancer assessment for acrylonitrile was posted to the IRIS database.
Nov 1991	The inhalation RfC for acrylonitrile was posted to the IRIS database.
Mar 2010	EPA hosted an interagency science consultation on the review of the draft Toxicological Review of Acrylonitrile.
Jun 2010	Following a report from the National Toxicology Program, EPA placed the draft Acrylonitrile Toxicological Review on hold. [See June 15, 2010 SAB press release]
Jun 2011	EPA hosted a second interagency science consultation on the review of the selected sections and highlights to the external peer review draft of the Toxicological Review of Acrylonitrile.
Jun 2011	EPA released the external review draft of the acrylonitrile assessment for public review and comment. [Federal Register Notice Jun 30, 2011]
Aug 2011	EPA announced a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the document, IRIS Toxicological Review of Acrylonitrile (External Review Draft) (EPA/635/R-08/013A). The comment period closed on September 28, 2011. [Federal Register Notice Aug 31, 2011]
Sep 2011	EPA announced the availability of additional documentation for the acrylonitrile physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model (Zip file under downloads). This documentation supplements Appendix C of the IRIS Toxicological Review of Acrylonitrile (External Review Draft).

Status

This draft has been archived.

Additional Information

Comments on the assessment may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov Web site. From the site, select “Environmental Protection Agency” and the keyword “EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0204 (for the docket ID) to comment on this report.

This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.

• IRIS Toxicological Review of Acrylontrile (External Review Draft) (PDF)  (651  pp, 3.7 MB, about PDF)
• Charge to External Peer Reviewers (PDF)  (4  pp, 75.2 KB, about PDF)
• Acrylonitrile physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling code (ZIP)  (584.0 KB, about ZIP)

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Document Related Link(s)

• Update on Ramazzini Institute Data in IRIS Assessments
• IRIS Toxicological Review of Acrylonitrile (Interagency Science Consultation Draft)

Federal Register Notices

• FR Notice: Aug 31, 2011
• FR Notice: Jun 30, 2011