ABSTRACT
Polyacrylamide (PAM), hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), the synthesized through various polymerization techniques to achieve a polymer of ultra-high molecular weight. When PAM is grafted to plastics, such as polyethylene, the parent particulate plastics will account for the ecotoxicity of the grafted material. Polyacrylamide is synthesized from acrylamide and acrylic acid or acrylate. Concentrations of 0.3 ppb to 5 ppm acrylamide have been detected in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems near industrial areas that use acrylamide and polyacrylamides. When acrylamide grouts are used in large-scale operations, the estimated exposures for reasonable worst-case scenarios are high. Under such conditions, one may be concerned about the ecotoxicity of the polymers in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Under anaerobic conditions and in environments rich in carbon, but lacking nitrogen sources, PAM can act as a nitrogen source and stimulate methanogenesis. Clostridium bifermentans H1 was isolated from a curing pot at an HPAM distribution center.
