Report on two incidents of acrylamide poisoning in small workshops

We investigated two similar incidents of occupational acrylamide poisoning during glass processing in small workshops A and B through inquiring into patients' occupational history, medical history, medical treatment process, reviewing medical records, and conducting occupational field investigations on occupational hazards at reported scenes. We also analyzed possible causes of the two incidents to avoid such poisoning accidents in the future. The small workshop A was closed after the poisoning accident; therefore, no field investigation was conducted. The time weighted average concentrations of acrylamide in the workstations for preparation and filling of fire-proof liquid in the small workshop B was 0.42 and 0.09 mg·m^-3 respectively. Three cases of occupational chronic acrylamide poisoning (mild) were diagnosed in the small workshop A, and one acute case (mild) in the small workshop B. After three weeks of symptomatic treatment, the four patients were discharged with slightly improved symptoms. The main reason for the two occupational poisoning accidents was that the owners of selected small workshops lacked knowledge and awareness of occupational disease prevention, and did not take effective measures to prevent occupational diseases.