Dietary exposure to acrylamide is widespread. Acrylamide is a chemical formed in many commonly consumed foods and beverages as a result of frying, baking or roasting at high temperature. Exposure to acrylamide from diet starts in utero and continues throughout life. Measurements of stable reaction products, i.e. hemoglobin (Hb) from acrylamide, in humans illustrate that exposure to acrylamide varies between individuals and that it is possible to minimize exposure.
Acrylamide is neurotoxic, crosses the placenta and has been associated with restriction of fetal growth in humans. In animals, acrylamide causes heritable mutations, tumors, developmental toxicity, reduced fertility and impaired growth. Therefore the public health concern that followed the unexpected finding of acrylamide in food (by the group at Stockholm University), initiated a broad range of research studies on acrylamide. These have resulted in substantial experimental evidence of acrylamide-induced toxicity, crucial advances in exposure assessment, consistent evidence of widespread exposure to acrylamide in the general population, data from many epidemiological studies, food surveys and risk assessments, as well as that guidance for food industry have been initiated worldwide. However, the human health risk associated with exposure to acrylamide from diet is poorly understood and it is impossible to say what level of dietary exposure, if any, to acrylamide can be deemed safe.
To date epidemiological studies have mostly addressed exposure during adulthood, focused on cancer risk in adults, and exposure assessment has relied on questionnaires entailing a high degree of exposure misclassification. We have as part of earlier studies for the first time reported an association between Hb adducts from acrylamide and lower birthweight. However, no studies have yet evaluated the potential risk from prenatal exposure to acrylamide on health later in life. This is an important gap as many chronic diseases originate from early-life exposures.
Biomarker-based studies on prenatal exposure to acrylamide from diet are critically needed to determine whether prenatal exposure to acrylamide leads to major diseases later in life.
CHIPS aims to provide a better understanding of the potential impact of prenatal exposure to acrylamide from diet on human health through development and application of biomarkers to prospective birth cohort studies with long follow-up of health.
