Harm of polyacrylamide (PAM) to the environment and human body

A large number of literature studies have shown that polyacrylamide (PAM) has no special hazards to the human body and the environment, but the decomposition of polyacrylamide (PAM) may produce monomer acrylamide (AM). AM is a chemical substance that is a raw material for the production of polyacrylamide (PAM), which can be used for industrial purposes such as sewage purification. The human body can be exposed to AM through various channels such as the digestive tract, respiratory tract, skin and mucous membranes, so food is considered to be the main source of human AM.

The hazards of AM to humans and animals mainly include the following:

1. Effects on the nervous system: One-time high-dose intake will cause the function of the nervous system, especially in the brain, manifested as symptoms of cerebral hemorrhage;

2. Can damage the reproductive system of animals;

3. It has a strong carcinogenic effect on the human body;

4. It can distort various human organs.

The monitoring results of the Food Contaminants Monitoring Network showed that the AM content in fried potato, barley tea, instant coffee, corn tea, cereal fried food, and cereal baked food was relatively high. At the same time, the content of AM in food depends on food processing and cooking methods, especially the type of food and frying temperature and time. In March 2005, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives issued a report saying that AM causes cancer in animals, warning the public to pay attention and take measures to reduce AM in food. The Ministry of Health attached great importance to this and immediately organized experts to conduct a risk assessment on AM. In April, the Ministry of Health released food health warning information and AM risk assessment report, scientifically introduced the health status of AM, and reminded consumers to reduce the possible health hazards caused by AM through reasonable processing of food and balanced diet.

neurotoxicity and reproductive developmental toxicity

Scientists have basically shown that AM can indeed cause neurotoxicity through a large number of animal experiments. The scope of neurotoxic effects is mainly the degenerative changes of peripheral nerves and the degeneration of parts of the brain involved in learning, memory and other cognitive functions, as well as peripheral neuropathy (glove-like sensation, sweating and muscle weakness).

Reproductive toxicity is mainly manifested as a decrease in the number and motility of sperm in male rats, a change in morphology, and a decrease in fertility. Glycidylpropionamide guanine adducts were detected in mouse liver, testis, lung, leukocyte, thyroid, kidney and rat liver, bone marrow, testis, mammary gland, leukocyte and brain. So far, there has been no report on the formation of DNA adducts after human AM exposure.