Preventing Occupational and Environmental Exposures to Acrylamide and Other Potentially Hazardous Chemicals in Puerto Rico

Acrylamide is a colorless, odorless, crystalline solid that made national headlines a few years ago when a judge in California ruled that coffee would soon have to carry a cancer warning because of the presence of acrylamide, a potential carcinogen formed in the roasting process. A year later, a new state rule determined coffee would not have to carry the warning. 
 
For many, this was the first time they had ever heard of acrylamide. The organic compound is formed in various foods, especially those rich in carbohydrates when they are fried, grilled or baked. The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) asserts that for the general population, exposure to acrylamide occurs mainly through eating contaminated food, although it can also occur by breathing secondhand smoke or drinking contaminated water.
 
Some workers are also at risk of exposure. Acrylamide is used to make polyacrylamides, which are mainly used in treating wastewater discharge from water treatment plants and industrial processes. Acrylamide and polyacrylamides are also used in the production of dyes and organic chemicals, contact lenses, cosmetics and toiletries, permanent-press fabrics, textile production, pulp and paper production, ore processing, sugar refining, and as a chemical grouting agent and soil stabilizer for the construction of tunnels, sewers, wells and reservoirs states the ATSDR.
 
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates acrylamide levels in drinking water and the Food & Drug Administration regulates the amount of it in a variety of materials that come in contact with food,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “While the general population is indeed most likely to be exposed by eating or drinking contaminated foods and beverages, some workers are at risk of exposure through inhalation, skin and eye contact, and through skin absorption. This is why NIOSH and OSHA have established occupational exposure limits in the workplace.”
 
In Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean, the industrial hygiene and environmental professionals at Zimmetry Environmental offer testing, monitoring and consulting services for acrylamide and a wide range of other chemicals. They also recently sponsored an educational video about potential exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/lsNsJJuT0uw
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their industrial hygiene, environmental, air quality, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.
 

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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