Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) for acrylonitrile

Abstract

Application of Provisional Advisory Level (PAL) protocols was performed for acrylonitrile, as experimental data permitted. Three levels (PAL 1, PAL 2, and PAL 3), distinguished by severity of toxic effects, are developed for 24-hour, 30-day, 90-day, and 2-year durations of potential drinking water and inhalation exposures for the general public. For background on the PAL Program and a description of the methodology used in deriving PALs, the reader is referred to accompanying papers in this Supplement. Human data were limited to inhalation exposures. The animal experimental data set for this chemical was robust for inhalation and oral studies, with the exception of appropriate data for inhalation 30-day, 90-day, and 2-year PAL 3 values. PAL estimates were approved by the Expert Consultation Panel for Provisional Advisory Levels in October 2007. Oral 24-hour PALs for acrylonitrile are PAL 1 = 7 mg/L; PAL 2 = 23 mg/L; and PAL 3 = 88 mg/L. Oral 30-day and 90-day PALs are PAL 1 = 0.35 mg/L; PAL 2 = 7 mg/L; and PAL 3 = 17 mg/L. Oral 2-year PALs are PAL 1 = 0.35 mg/L; PAL 2 = 3.5 mg/L; and PAL 3 = 12 mg/L. Acrylonitrile inhalation PAL values for 24-hour exposure are PAL 1 = 0.17 ppm; PAL 2 = 3.5 ppm; and PAL 3 = 5.1 ppm; the 30-day and 90-day inhalation exposure values are PAL 1 = 0.15 ppm and PAL 2 = 0.60 ppm. The 2-year inhalation values are PAL 1 = 0.014 ppm and PAL 2 = 0.12 ppm. PAL 3 values for 30 days, 90 days, and 2 years are not recommended due to insufficient data.

Keywords::

• PALs
• acrylonitrile
• emergency response
• inhalation
• drinking water

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the scientific rigor provided by the members of the Expert Consultation Panel in development of the PAL process. Individuals from several different US EPA offices have also contributed to the review process. The authors are grateful for the assistance of Debra Stewart in preparation of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: This work was prepared under two Interagency Agreements (IAGs): IAG No. 1824-S870-T1 with the U.S. Department of Energy and IAG No. DW-89-92241401 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed and operated by UT-Battelle, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the US Environmental Protection Agency.