Acrylaldehyde

Bioaccumulation: aquatic / sediment

Description of key information

On the basis of the high water solubility and chemical reactivity of acrolein and its low experimentally determined log Kow of -1.10, no bioaccumulation would be expected. Following the exposure of Bluegill sunfish to 14C-labelled acrolein (0.013 mg/l water) for 28 days, the half-time for removal of radiolabel taken up by the fish was more than 7 days. The study does not represent bioaccumulation (BCF was 344) of acrolein per se, but rather incorporation of the radioactive carbon into tissues following the reaction of acrolein with protein sulfhydryl groups or metabolism of absorbed acrolein and incorporation of label into intermediary metabolites.

Additional information

1. European Union Risk Assessment Report of Acrolein (EU, 2001)

On the basis of the high water solubility and chemical reactivity of acrolein and its low experimentally determined log Kow of -1.10, no bioaccumulation would be expected. Following the exposure of Bluegill sunfish to 14C-labelled acrolein (0.013 mg/l water) for 28 days, the half-time for removal of radiolabel taken up by the fish was more than 7 days. The study does not represent bioaccumulation (BCF was 344) of acrolein per se, but rather incorporation of the radioactive carbon into tissues following the reaction of acrolein with protein sulfhydryl groups or metabolism of absorbed acrolein and incorporation of label into intermediary metabolites.

2. Agreement with further international Reports and Studies published after finalisation of the EU Risk Assessment Report 2001  

WHO (2002): A bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 344 and a half-life of greater than 7 days were reported for acrolein in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) following exposure to acrolein at a mean concentration of 13 µg/litre for a 28-day period. However, these values may be overestimates, as the total 14C measured in the fish may have included metabolites.

3. Substantial disagreements in comparison to further international Reports to European Union Risk Assessment Report 2001

None

4. Additional aspects in further international Reports

WHO (2002): Based on the high water solubility, low octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow), and high reactivity of acrolein, uptake by organisms is predicted to be low. A BCF of 0.6 was estimated using the linear regression equation of Veith et al. (1980) and a log Kow of -0.01 for acrolein. Acrolein was not detected in the tissues of fish and shellfish sampled 1 day after a second exposure to [14C] acrolein in water (0.02 and 0.1 mg/litre for the first and second exposures, respectively) over a 1-week period. The presence of metabolites indicates that these species were able to rapidly metabolize acrolein and its residues. Based on these results and the low reported BCFs, acrolein is unlikely to bioaccumulate or bioconcentrate significantly in aquatic. Absorption of acrolein by terrestrial plants is poor.

5. Additional information in newer Studies, not included in the European Union Risk Assessment Report 2001 or further cited international reports

None

6. Conclusions

On the basis of the high water solubility and chemical reactivity of acrolein and its low experimentally determined log Kow of -1.10, no bioaccumulation would be expected. Following the exposure of Bluegill sunfish to 14C-labelled acrolein (0.013 mg/l water) for 28 days, the half-time for removal of radiolabel taken up by the fish was more than 7 days. The study does not represent bioaccumulation (BCF was 344) of acrolein per se, but rather incorporation of the radioactive carbon into tissues following the reaction of acrolein with protein sulfhydryl groups or metabolism of absorbed acrolein and incorporation of label into intermediary metabolites.