Dermal oncogenicity study of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate by epicutaneous application in male C3H/HeJ mice

Derivation of no significant risk levels for three lower acrylates: Conclusions and recommendations from an expert panel

A panel of toxicology, mode of action (MOA), and cancer risk assessment experts was engaged to derive no-significant-risk-levels (NSRLs) for three lower acrylates: methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2EHA) using the best available science, data, and methods. The review was structured as a five-round, modified Delphi format, a systematic process for collecting independent and deliberative input from panel members, and it included several procedural elements to reduce potential sources of bias and groupthink. Input from the panel for key decisions in the dose-response assessments resulted in NSRL values of 530 μg/day (330-800 μg/day), 640 μg/day (280-670 μg/day), and 1700 μg/day (1300-2700 μg/day) for MA, EA, and 2EHA, respectively. Novel to this approach were the use of nonneoplastic lesions reported at point of contact where tumors have been reported in laboratory rodents, along with nonlinear extrapolation to low doses (uncertainty factor approach) based upon panel recommendations. Confidence in these values is considered medium to high for exposures applied to the routes of exposure tested (inhalation for MA and EA, dermal for 2EHA), but confidence is considered lower when applied to other routes of exposure.

Cancer weight of evidence for three lower acrylates: Conclusions and recommendations from an expert panel

An international panel of experts was engaged to assess the cancer weight of evidence (WOE) for three lower acrylates: methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. The review was structured as a three-round, modified Delphi format, a systematic process for collecting independent and deliberative input from panel members, and it included procedural elements to reduce bias and groupthink. Based upon the available science, the panel concluded: (1) The MOA for point of contact tumors observed in rodent cancer bioassays that is best supported by available data involves increased cell replication by cytotoxicity and regenerative proliferation; (2) The WOE supports a cancer classification of "Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans" a conclusion that is more in line with an IARC classification of Group 3 rather than Group 2 B; (3) Quantitative cancer potency values based on rodent tumor data are not required for these chemicals; and (4) Human health risk assessment for these chemicals should instead rely on non-cancer, precursor endpoints observed at the point of contact (e.g., hyperplasia). The degree of consensus (consensus scores of 0.84-0.91 out of a maximum score of 1) and degree of confidence (7.7-8.7 out of a maximum score of 10) in the WOE conclusions is considered high.

Murine Skin Carcinogenesis and the Role of Immune System Dysregulation in the Tumorigenicity of 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate

Some chemicals act as human carcinogens in various organ systems including the skin. Mice have been an ideal model to study a wide variety of chemical carcinogens because the pathogenesis in that species often mirrors that in humans. However, different mouse strains vary in their susceptibility to these agents. Thus, reliance on a single strain may lead to inaccurate findings. 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) is an acrylate used as a co-monomer in the production of polymer resins for adhesives, latex paints, cross-linking agents, finishes for textiles and leather, and paper coatings. Monomer exposure may occur in occupational settings where it is produced or used; the only exposure that may occur to consumers or construction personnel is trace amounts in the final polymer product. There are no reports of cancer in humans caused by exposure to 2-EHA. However, 2-EHA has been reported to cause cancer in one strain of mice. This is an important issue since recommendations about its safety in humans depend, in part, on information derived from animal studies. We reviewed the literature on the preclinical effects of acrylates on skin carcinogenesis in C3H/HeJ mice, which can be criticized because of peculiarities in the immunological composition of that strain, the lack of rigorous histopathologic characterization of tumors that developed, the high doses of 2-EHA that were used for evaluation, and the lack of reproducibility in a second strain of mice. The C3H/HeJ mouse model is not ideal as it has a mutation in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) that impairs its innate and adaptive immune responses. Inconsistencies in the histological evaluation of tumors induced in C3H/HeJ mice provide further evidence that the tumorigenic effect of 2-EHA was strain specific, a result of chronic inflammation during the promotion stage and/or a skewed immune response caused by the TLR4 mutation. In conclusion, 2-EHA has not convincingly been demonstrated to have skin carcinogenic activity to date. More relevant mouse models that mimic human squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma with amounts that do not exceed a maximum tolerated dose are needed to assess the carcinogenic effects of 2-EHA.

Correlations between odour activity and the structural modifications of acrylates

Acrylates (acrylic esters) are versatile monomers that are widely used in polymer formulations because of their highly reactive α,β-unsaturated carboxyl structure. Commonly used acrylates such as butyl acrylate are known to emit a strong unpleasant odour, and the monomers are therefore potential off-odorants in acrylic polymers. However, up to now, the odour properties of structurally related acrylic esters have not been characterised in detail. To obtain deeper insights into the smell properties of different acrylates, we investigated the relationship between the molecular structure and odour thresholds as well as the odour qualities of 20 acrylic esters, nine of these synthesised here for the first time. The OT values of 16 acrylates fell within the range from 0.73 to 20 ng/L_air, corresponding to a high-odour activity. Moreover, sec-butyl acrylate and 2-methoxyphenyl acrylate showed even lower OT values of 0.073 and 0.068, respectively. On the other hand, the OT values of the hydroxylated acrylates 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate were 5-244 times higher than those of the other compounds, demonstrating that the presence of a hydroxyl group obviously favours odour inactivity.

Critical evaluation of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate dermal carcinogenicity studies using contemporary criteria

Skin tumors have been observed in C3H/HeJ mice following treatment with high and strongly irritating concentrations of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA). Dermal carcinogenicity studies performed with 2-EHA are reviewed, contrasting the results in two mouse strains (C3H/HeJ and NMRI) under different dosing regimens. Application of contemporary evaluation criteria to the existing dermal carcinogenicity dataset demonstrates that 2-EHA induces skin tumors only at concentrations exceeding an maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and in the immune-dysregulated C3H/HeJ mouse model. Overall, the available chronic toxicity and genotoxicity data on 2-EHA support a non-genotoxic chemical irritant mechanism, whereby chronic irritation leads to inflammation, tissue injury, and wound repair, the latter of which is disrupted in C3H/HeJ mice and leads to tumor formation. Tumor response information in excess of an MTD should not be considered in a human hazard or risk assessment paradigm. For the purposes of an appropriate hazard assessment, 2-EHA did not cause or initiate dermal carcinogenesis in an immune competent (NMRI) mouse model, and, even in the immune compromised C3H/HeJ model, did not induce skin tumors at doses which did not exceed the MTD.

A review of the genotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic potentials of several lower acrylates

Lower alkyl acrylate monomers include methyl-, ethyl-, n-butyl-, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. These acrylates are used in the manufacture of acrylic polymers and copolymers for plastics, food packaging, adhesives, and cosmetic formulations. Although there is limited potential for human environmental exposure, occupational exposure can occur via inhalation and dermal contact. Recently, new genotoxicity data have been generated, along with in silico and in vitro read-cross analyses, for these acrylates. The availability of high-throughput screening (HTS) data through the ToxCast™/Tox21 databases allows for consideration of computational toxicology and organization of these data according to the ten key characteristics of carcinogens. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive review to evaluate the mechanistic, toxicokinetic, animal, and human data, including HTS data, for characterizing the potential carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity of these acrylates. Toxicokinetic data demonstrate that these acrylates are metabolized rapidly by carboxylesterase hydrolysis and conjugation with glutathione. HTS data demonstrated an overall lack of bioactivity in cancer-related pathways. Overall, the genotoxicity and mutagenicity data support a cytotoxic, non-genotoxic mechanism for these acrylates. Cancer bioassay studies conducted by the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes in animal models with these acrylates did not show any increase in tumor incidence, with two exceptions. At high doses, and secondary to chronic site-of-contact irritation and corrosion, rodent forestomach tumors were induced by oral gavage dosing with ethyl acrylate, and skin tumors were observed following chronic dermal dosing with 2-ethylhexyl acrylate in C3H/HeJ inbred mice (a strain with deficiencies in wound healing), but not in the outbred NMRI strain. For both dermal and forestomach cancers, tumorigenesis is secondary to high doses and long-term tissue damage, shown to be reversible. With evidence that these chemicals are not genotoxic, and that they cause forestomach and dermal tumors through chronic irritation and regenerative proliferation mechanisms, these acrylates are unlikely to pose a human cancer hazard.

Final report on the safety assessment of Acrylates Copolymer and 33 related cosmetic ingredients

Ingredients in the Acrylates Copolymer group all contain the monomers acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or one of their salts or esters. These ingredients are considered similar in that they are uniformly produced in chemical reactions that leave very little residual monomer. Although residual acrylic acid may be as high as 1500 ppm, typical levels are 10 to 1000 ppm. There is sufficient odor if residual monomers are present to cause producers to keep levels as low as possible. These ingredients function in cosmetics as binders, film formers, hair fixatives, suspending agents, viscosity-increasing agents, and emulsion stabilizers. Concentrations may be as high as 25% if used as a binder, film former, or fixative; or as low as 0.5% if used as a viscosity-increasing agent, suspending agent, or emulsion stabilizer. These very large polymers exhibit little toxicity. In rabbits and guinea pigs, Acrylates Copolymer did produce irritation, but no evidence of sensitization was found. The principle concern regarding the use of these polymer ingredients is the presence of toxic residual monomers. In particular, although 2-ethylhexyl acrylate was not genotoxic, it was carcinogenic when applied at a concentration of 21% to the skin of C3H mice. Lower concentrations (2.5%) and stop-dose studies at high concentrations (43%) were not carcinogenic. 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate was not carcinogenic in studies using NMRI mice. Whether an increase in carcinogenesis was seen or not, there was evidence of severe dermal irritation in these 2-ethylhexyl acrylate studies. Another concern regarding residual monomers was inhalation toxicity. Although the acrylic acid monomer is a nasal irritant, exposure to the monomer from use of these polymers in cosmetic formulations would always be less than the established occupational exposure limits for nasal irritation. Although there appears to be a huge variation in the mix of monomers used in the synthesis of these polymers, they are similar in that the polymers, except for dermal irritation, are not significantly toxic, and residual monomer levels are kept as low as possible. Although the monomers may be toxic, the levels that would be found in cosmetic formulations are not considered to present a safety risk. Accordingly, these Acrylate Copolymers are considered safe for use in cosmetic formulations when formulated to avoid irritation.

Comparative in vitro cytotoxicity of ethyl acrylate and tripropylene glycol diacrylate to normal human skin and lung cells

The potential for occupational exposure to the esters of acrylic acid (acrylates) is considerable, and, thus, requires a greater understanding of the their toxicity. Confluent (70-90%) cultures of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK), dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). or bronchial epithelium (NHBE) were exposed to the monofunctional ethyl acrylate (EA), the multifunctional tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), or TPGDA monomer in a radiation curable lacquer (Lacquer A) at equimolar dosages in order to determine human in vitro cytotoxicity. Viability of the cells after 2-24-h exposure to the representative monofunctional or multifunctional acrylate or solvent control was used to calculate an index of acute cytotoxicity (50% inhibitory dose; ID50) and to determine the shape of the dose-response curves. TPGDA, Lacquer A, and EA were equally cytotoxic (ID50 is approximately equal to 0.1 micromol/cm2) to NHEK at equimolar doses. TPGDA or Lacquer A were more cytotoxic (is approximately equal to 100X) to NHDF or NHBE than EA. Sequential exposure of UV(A) and TPGDA to NHEK indicate the potential for a synergistic cytotoxic response. These findings are consistent with observed decreases in free sulfhydryl groups (e.g., glutathione or cysteine) that parallel the dose-response-related decreases in viability. logether, these data suggest possible differences in toxicity between the monofunctional EA and multifunctional TPGDA to NHEK, NHDF. or NHBE, possibly due to the difference in the number of functional acrylate groups and/or physicochemical differences (e.g., vapor pressure) between the acrylates investigated.

Tripropylene glycol diacrylate but not ethyl acrylate induces skin tumors in a twenty-week short-term tumorigenesis study in Tg.AC (v-Ha-ras) mice

The toxicity of the esters of acrylic acid are poorly understood even though significant human exposure occurs. To conduct rapid comparative short-term bioassays, we used the Tg.AC (v-Ha-ras) transgenic mouse model to determine the toxicity and potential carcinogenicity of tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA) alone and in a reference formulated ultraviolet radiation curable lacquer (Lacquer A), which is used in the ultraviolet radiation curable surface coatings. For comparison, ethyl acrylate (EA) was used as a reference acrylate. Insertion of the zeta-globin promoted v-Ha-ras transgene into the FVB mouse genome (Tg.AC) introduced a defined genetic lesion, which is critical but insufficient by itself to induce benign or malignant tumors in the skin unless activated. Activation and expression of the transgenic ras oncoprotein in this mouse line induces a dose-related increase in papillomas (skin reporter phenotype) within weeks. Based on dose-related increases in skin hyperplasia following dermal exposure to EA, TPGDA, or Lacquer A (applied equimolar for TPGDA concentration), the dosing regimen was selected. Starting at 12 wk of age, the agents were administered topically (200 microliters of acetone vehicle) 3 times/wk for 20 wk to the shaved dorsal skin of female Tg.AC mice (n = 10/group). TPGDA and reference Lacquer A (equimolar for TPGDA) at 5 or 10 mumoles/mouse but not EA (60, 300, or 600 mumoles/mouse) or TPGDA or Lacquer A at 1 mumole/mouse induced a dose-related increase in papillomas between 6 and 12 wk of treatment that reached a maximum number of papillomas per mouse between 19 and 20 wk of treatment. These results indicate that TPGDA is significantly more potent than EA for inducing the skin reporter phenotype and may be predicted to be carcinogenic in long-term cancer bioassays at the site of contact.

Structure-activity relationships in the hydrolysis of acrylate and methacrylate esters by carboxylesterase in vitro

Acrylate esters are important chemicals in the plastics industry, whose toxicity is theorized to involve alkylation of critical cellular nucleophiles via the Michael addition. Carboxylesterase-mediated hydrolysis of acrylates may be a detoxification mechanism as the unsaturated acid produced is not electrophilic under physiological conditions. Using purified porcine liver carboxylesterase, the enzymatic hydrolysis of several acrylate esters was characterized to determine Km and Vmax values for each ester. The Km (microM) and Vmax (nmol/min) values observed for ethyl acrylate were 134 +/- 16 (S.D.) and 8.9 +/- 2.0, respectively. While the Km for ethyl methacrylate was not significantly different, the Vmax 5.5 +/- 2.5, was significantly lower compared with the corresponding value for ethyl acrylate. The Km and Vmax for butyl acrylate were 33.3 +/- 8.5 microM and 1.49 +/- 0.83 nmol/min, respectively, and the corresponding values for its alpha-methyl analog were not significantly different. The Km and Vmax for tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate were 39 +/- 15 microM and 2.9 +/- 1.0 nmol/min, respectively. The Vmax for ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, 6.9 +/- 2.4 nmol/min, was significantly higher than that of the larger bifunctional ester tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, but the Km was not significantly different. These results indicate that alpha-methyl substitution appears to have a minor effect in the enzymatic hydrolysis of acrylates, and suggest that the relative toxicity of acrylates is not due to differences in carboxylesterase-mediated hydrolysis.

2-year carcinogenicity study in the male NMRI mouse with 2-ethylhexyl acrylate by epicutaneous administration

A 2 yr carcinogenicity study of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) was conducted by applying 25 microliters 21.5, 43 or 85% 2-EHA or 0.015% benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in acetone, three times/wk, to the clipped dorsal skin of male NMRI mice (80 per group). A further group received acetone and served as the vehicle control. After about 7 months of treatment, half of each group was rested from treatment for a period of 2 months, then treated with the promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for 20 wk followed by observation until termination of the study. The other half of each group received continuous treatment with 2-EHA, B[a]P or acetone, respectively, for 2 yr. Signs signs of skin irritation were apparent in all groups treated with 2-EHA [hyperkeratosis, hyperplasia (acanthosis), crust formation and ulceration]. In the group treated with B[a]P alone or B[a]P with TPA, 79% and 67% of the mice, respectively, bore squamous cell carcinomas. None of the mice treated with acetone or 2-EHA alone developed a skin tumour at the application site. One squamous cell papilloma occurred in each of the groups treated with 2-EHA and TPA, an incidence matched by the single squamous cell papilloma in an untreated area of an acetone control mouse. Thus, 2-EHA proved not to be carcinogenic in the skin of male NMRI mice by epicutaneous administration.

Acute toxicity, genotoxicity, and dermal carcinogenicity assessment of isooctyl acrylate

Isooctyl acrylate (IOA) monomer is a complex mixture comprised predominantly of isomeric, eight-carbon alkyl esters of acrylic acid. Limited evidence from animal studies suggests that certain acrylate esters may be carcinogenic by the dermal route of exposure. The following studies were performed with IOA monomer: acute oral toxicity limit test in rats, primary dermal and ocular irritancy in rabbits, Ames Salmonella microsome assay, Saccharomyces cerevisiae D3 recombinogenicity assay, L5178Y TK +/- mouse lymphoma cell assay, and C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryo cell transformation assay. Finally, a limited dermal carcinogenicity bioassay was performed in which aliquots (25 microliters) of IOA monomer (5% v/v in acetone), IOA polymer (19% w/v in 70:30 acetone/heptane), or acetone (vehicle control) were applied to the shaved backs of male C3H/HeJ mice three times per week for the animals' lifetimes. IOA monomer had an acute oral LD50 in rats greater than 5000 mg/kg, was slightly irritating to the eyes and skin of rabbits on single exposures, and exhibited no genotoxic or cell-transforming potential. In the dermal carcinogenicity bioassay, no significant difference in mean survival times was observed between either treatment group and the control group. Animals treated with IOA monomer exhibited moderate dermatitis, surface crusting, hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia, diffuse melanosis, and one benign melanoma at the treatment size. Animals treated with IOA polymer exhibited varying degrees of dermatitis, surface crusting, and hyperkeratosis. Neither IOA monomer nor IOA polymer was carcinogenic under the conditions of the study.