New evidence suggests acrylamide can cause cancer
Editor's note: The following were released in April 2011 by the National Toxicology Program.
Two-year NTP studies of acrylamide, given in an animal’s drinking water, found clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in both sexes of rats and mice, based on tumors in multiple sites
What is acrylamide?
Acrylamide is a chemical widely used during the manufacturing of papers, dyes, and other industrial products. It can also be formed when certain foods are cooked at high temperatures. Frying, baking, or roasting certain foods, such as potatoes or grains, can create acrylamide. French fries and potato chips, for example, may have measurable acrylamide levels. Acrylamide is also found in cigarette smoke.
How do people get exposed to acrylamide?
Food and cigarette smoke are the major sources of acrylamide exposure.
How does acrylamide get into foods?
When certain foods are cooked at high temperatures, sugars, such as glucose and fructose, can react with the free amino acid, asparagine, to form acrylamide.
Acrylamide forms as part of a chemical reaction, known as the Maillard reaction, which contributes to the aroma, taste, and color of cooked foods.
Acrylamide is one of the hundreds of chemicals that can form during the Maillard reaction.
Why did the NTP study acrylamide?
The nomination to study acrylamide came from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA wanted high quality data from animal studies to help support risk assessments to understand any potential risks to humans. Acrylamide has been previously shown to cause several types of cancer in animals, but more information was needed to better understand how acrylamide causes tumors to occur and at what doses the tumors occurred in animals.
The NTP studies on acrylamide were conducted at FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) as part of an interagency collaboration between NIEHS and FDA/NCTR.
What did the NTP studies find?
The two-year NTP studies of acrylamide, given in an animal’s drinking water, found clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in male and female rats and mice, based on tumors in multiple sites.
For example, tumors were found in the mammary and thyroid glands in female rats, and the reproductive organs in male rats. Tumors of the lung were among those observed in mice. It is rare for NTP to observe clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in both sexes of rats and mice at multiple sites
What do the NTP studies mean for humans?
Acrylamide is already classified as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (see 11th Report on Carcinogens). The potential risks to humans, associated with dietary exposure to acrylamide, are difficult to estimate and go beyond the intent of the NTP technical report. The new NTP studies will help FDA make better scientific-based assessments of the risk posed to the human population at low levels of exposure and to identify risk management options that may be warranted for reducing acrylamide exposure from foods.
Are acrylamide levels regulated?
FDA is currently developing guidance for industry on reduction of acrylamide levels in food products. FDA also regulates the amount of acrylamide in a variety of materials that come in contact with food.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates acrylamide levels in drinking water.
How can I reduce my family’s exposure to acrylamide?
Adopt a healthy, balanced eating plan that includes fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish, high-fiber grains, and beans.
The FDA also offers information on acrylamide, including advice for consumers who want to reduce acrylamide formation in foods (see http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/ChemicalContaminants/Acrylamide/ucm053569.htm for more information).
Other tips include the following:
• Fry foods at 170 degrees Celsius (338 degrees Farenheit) or lower.
• Cook potato strips, such as French fries, to a golden yellow rather than a golden brown color.
• Toast bread to the lightest color acceptable.
• Soak raw potato slices in water for 15-30 minutes before frying or roasting. Drain and blot dry before cooking.
• Do not store raw potatoes in the refrigerator.
NTP TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE
TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS STUDIES OF ACRYLAMIDE (CAS NO. 79-06-1) IN F344/N RATS AND B6C3F1 MICE
(DRINKING WATER STUDY)
Under the conditions of these 2-year drinking water studies, there was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of acrylamide in male F344/N rats based on increased incidences of malignant mesothelioma of the epididymis and testis, malignant schwannoma of the heart, and follicular cell adenoma or carcinoma of the thyroid gland. Increased incidences of neoplasms (primarily adenoma) of the pancreatic islets were also considered related to acrylamide exposure.
There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of acrylamide in female F344/N rats based on increased incidences of fibroadenoma of the mammary gland, squamous cell neoplasms (primarily papilloma) of the oral cavity (mucosa or tongue), mesenchymal neoplasms (fibroma, fibrosarcoma, or sarcoma) of the skin, and follicular cell neoplasms (adenoma or carcinoma) of the thyroid gland. Increased incidences of hepatocellular adenoma of the liver and carcinoma of the clitoral gland were also considered to be related to acrylamide exposure. The occurrence of malignant schwannoma of the heart may have been related to acrylamide exposure.
There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of acrylamide in male B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of neoplasms (primarily adenoma) of the harderian gland, alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms (primarily adenoma) of the lung and squamous cell neoplasms (primarily papilloma) of the forestomach.
There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of acrylamide in female B6C3F1 mice based on increased incidences of adenoma of the harderian gland, alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma of the lung, adenoacanthoma and adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland, benign granulosa cell neoplasms of the ovary, and malignant mesenchymal neoplasms of the skin. Increased incidences of squamous cell papilloma of the forestomach were also considered to be related to acrylamide exposure.
Exposure to acrylamide was associated with increased incidences of degeneration of the retina and sciatic nerve in male and female rats, forestomach epithelial hyperplasia and cataracts of the eye in male and female mice, hematopoietic cell proliferation of the spleen in female rats and male and female mice, epithelial hyperplasia of the lung in male mice, and ovarian cysts in female mice.
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