Acrylamide is a clear, odorless chemical. It has many industrial uses, including treating waste water
discharge from water treatment plants. It is also used in the production of industrial products like dyes,
paper pulp, grout, plastics, and construction materials. Many consumer products are also produced
using acrylamide, such as contact lenses, cosmetics, fabrics, textiles, and sugar. When acrylamide enters
the environment, people are most likely to be exposed to it by drinking contaminated water. Acrylamide
can enter drinking water through the water treatment process or through improper disposal from
industrial facilities that use it to manufacture products.

Exposure to acrylamide can have serious effects on the brain, causing numbness in the hands and feet,
disorientation, loss of balance, and muscle weakness. Skin contact with acrylamide can cause irritation,
dermatitis, and nerve damage. Studies in laboratory animals have found that acrylamide exposure can
also cause defects in the male reproductive system, but it is unknown if it has the same effects in
humans. Based on studies in laboratory animals, the US Environmental Protection Agency classifies
acrylamide as probably causing cancer in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer
classifies it as likely causing cancer in humans.

In 2002, acrylamide was discovered to form when foods rich in starch are grilled, baked, or fried above
250°F. This includes foods like potato chips, French fries, and breakfast cereals. The resulting acrylamide
can be found in the dark brown or burnt areas of these foods. Since this discovery, many regulatory and
public health agencies across the world have called for more research into whether this dietary
exposure to acrylamide increases the risk for cancer. The American Cancer Society says that based on
existing studies in humans, dietary acrylamide exposure is unlikely to be linked to increased cancer risk.
However, the ACS says that more research on this topic is needed to fully know if dietary acrylamide
poses a cancer risk. This research will be crucial in understanding how widespread cancerous acrylamide
exposure may be.

Styrene is a chemical compound that can be linked together with itself or other compounds to create strong, flexible polymers that make up plastics, rubbers, and resins. Many products such as foodware containers, printer toner, shoes, plastic pipes, carpeting, fiberglass insulation, and automobile parts contain styrene.

Styrene can enter the air, water, and soil through manufacturing and disposal of styrene-containing products. Styrene is a colorless liquid but it readily evaporates, so a large portion of styrene that enters water or soil ends up in the air. While manufacturing and disposal can cause exposure, most people are exposed to styrene through their use of styrene-containing products.  For example, people inhale it indoors because styrene-containing building materials and printers release styrene vapors. In addition, the styrene in foodware containers can migrate into the food they hold, causing people to ingest styrene.

Once inhaled or ingested, styrene can have many adverse effects on the body. Many of these effects are in the brain, such as impaired vision, impaired hearing, loss of coordination, slowed reaction time, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Studies in laboratory animals have found that styrene exposure can also cause damage to the liver, though it is unknown if it has this effect in humans. The US Department of Health and Human Services classifies styrene as being reasonably anticipated to cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies styrene as probably causing cancer. The pervasiveness of styrene-containing plastics in consumer and industrial products makes these adverse health effects particularly concerning. Decreasing the reliance on plastics – through government regulation, scientific innovation, and consumer education – would help protect people from styrene exposure and its associated health effects.