Acrylamide is an agent produced during food preparation, which has been proven to be genotoxic (affecting the genetic material) and to cause cancer in test animals. There is only limited information about whether it causes cancer in humans, but the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC is categorising acrylamide as being probably carcinogenic in humans (group 2A).
The project studied the correlation between the intake of acrylamide and the risk of cancer based on the material of the Finnish cancer prevention research and models the intake of acrylamide in Finnish adults and children. The project was carried out in collaboration between Evira and the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The main results have been published in two scientific articles:
Hirvonen T, Kontto J, Jestoi M, Valsta L, Peltonen K, Pietinen P, Virtanen SM, Sinkko H, Kronberg-Kippilä C, Albanes D, Virtamo J (2010). Dietary acrylamide intake and the risk of cancer among Finnish male smokers. Cancer Causes Control 21(12):2223-9.
Hirvonen T, Jestoi M, Tapanainen H, Valsta L, Virtanen SM, Sinkko H, Kronberg-Kippilä C, Kontto J, Virtamo J, Simell O, Peltonen K (2011). Dietary acrylamide exposure among Finnish adults and children: the potential effect of reduction measures. Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure & Risk Assessment 28(11):1483-91.
Research Group
Senior Researcher Tero Hirvonen
Head of Unit Kimmo Peltonen
Head of Unit Jarmo Virtamo (THL)
Prof. Suvi Virtanen (THL)
Prof. Pirjo Pietinen (THL)
Senior Researcher Marika Jestoi
Statistical Researcher Harri Sinkko (THL)
Statistical Researcher Jukka Kontto (THL)
Researcher Carina Kronberg-Kippilä (THL)
Financed by
Evira