Subchronic and reproductive toxicology studies on acrylic acid in the drinking water of the rat.

In the subchronic study acrylic acid was incorporated in the drinking water of Fischer 344 rats (15 per group) for three months at dosage levels of 0.75, 0.25, 0.083 or 0 g/kg/day. No deaths occurred during the study but several treatment-related effects were observed. At 0.75 g/kg/day dosage level, body weight gain was reduced as were food and water consumption. Changes in organ weights and clinical chemistry parameters were observed along with increases in urine specific gravity and protein concentration. Similar, though less profound, changes occurred at 0.25 g/kg/day. At 0.083 g/kg/day, the only effect was a reduction of water consumption by male rats. There were no significant treatment-related histopathologic changes. Many of the effects observed may have been the result of decreased water and food consumption rather than specific toxic effects of acrylic acid. In the reproduction study, the same dosages of acrylic acid were given to groups of 10 males and 20 females for 90 days after which the animals were mated. Treatment was continued throughout gestation and lactation. Treatment-related effects included decreased body weight gain, and reduced food and water consumption in F0 rats at the 2 highest dosage levels. Organ weight changes occurred in both F0 and F1 animals and reduced body weight gain was seen in the F1 pups at the highest level. No statistically significant changes in reproductive indices were observed, perhaps because of an atypical control group.