Yeah, unpolyermerised acrylamide is the worry. As someone who has poured his fair share of SDS acrylamide gels I do get concerned when I see the polymer in the list of ingredients.

The potting soil additive is still around up here I think, and it always seems to be described as non toxic. I believe that there was concern in NZ a few years ago in commercial nurseries (plant) about trace amounts of un polymerised monomer still present.

No big deal, just a heads up about potential nerve damage when on the pot, but as a Vanagon owner, the concern is too late  :)

alistair

On 2011-10-08, at 2:25 PM, mcneely4@COX.NET wrote:

> Alistair, is your concern that the stuff may have monomeric acrylamide, like some of the potting soil additives do?  I THINK those have been removed from market, but maybe not.
> 
> Polyacrylamide and related compounds are used in diapers, as well, but I think after some initial concerns, the diapers now contain a purified grade.  Some parents still will not use them for fear of nerve toxicity.  Lots of stuff, mostly undocumented hysteria, about the diapers on the web.
> 
> Here is the msds, with no specific id of the material.  In addition to the unidentified "non-toxic polymer," the powder contains a "decay causing catalyst," in other materials described as an "enzyme."
> 
> Maybe you can find more information.
> 
> mcneely