Abstract

Widely used in many industrial sectors, acrylates can cause allergic sensitization, rhinoconjunctivitis and occupational asthma. Knowledge about their exact nature and the generation and analysis methods, in the laboratory as well as by direct-reading instruments, would allow safe bronchial provocation tests to be developed in the exposure chambers created by the IRSST. This activity is an initial step, which consists of documenting the acrylates used in Québec and the evaluation methods available. It will allow a strategy to be established for investigating these compounds and their related health problems. Avenues for R&D and new services will result from this work, namely safe methods for diagnosing respiratory diseases attributable to acrylates.