International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations

VOL.: 60 (1994) (p. 475)
CAS No.: 103-11-7
Chem. Abstr. Name: 2-Propenoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester

5.1 Exposure data

2-Ethylhexyl acrylate is produced by acid-catalysed esterification of acrylic acid with 2-ethylhexanol. Its major uses are in pressure-sensitive adhesives, in resins for latex paints and paper coatings and in the finishing of textiles. Occupational exposure to 2-ethylhexyl acrylate has been reported during its production and use.

5.2 Human carcinogenicity data

No data were available to the Working Group.

5.3 Animal carcinogenicity data

2-Ethylhexyl acrylate was tested by skin application in three experiments in mice. It increased the incidence of squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin in two experiments and of malignant melanomas in one experiment. In the third experiment, in a different strain of mice, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate did not increase skin tumour incidence, with or without subsequent application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate.

5.4 Other relevant data

2-Ethylhexylacrylate is rapidly metabolized in rats; a small proportion is exhaled as carbon dioxide within 24 h, and a small proportion is excreted as thioethers in urine. No data were available on the genetic and related effects of 2-ethylhexylacrylate in humans. There is very little evidence for or against its genotoxicity in experimental systems.

5.5 Evaluation

There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of ethylhexyl acrylate.

There is limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of ethylhexyl acrylate.

Overall evaluation

Ethylhexyl acrylate is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).

For definition of the italicized terms, see Preamble Evaluation.

Synonym

• 2-Ethylhexyl 2-propenoate

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       Toxicological Abbreviations