2-Hydroxyethyl Acrylate

2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate is an acrylic monomer. What is a monomer? A monomer is a starting material or single unit from which a polymer is built. It refers to the repeat units that make up the polymer chains. Example: Ethylene is the monomer for polyethylene, and styrene for polystyrene.

You should avoid any contact with this substance. Avoidance of the monomer (unreacted chemical) is necessary to prevent recurrent allergic contact dermatitis. From a practical viewpoint, this means that you should avoid plastics and glues as they are being made, such as in a factory or in industry when they are in liquid form. Once they are cured and solid, they typically no longer cause an allergic reaction when touched. The full polymerized (reacted) monomer is no longer a sensitizer. It is optimal to completely avoid exposure to the ingredients to which you are allergic. If you must be exposed to this acrylate (for example, because of your job), you may try to wear nitrile gloves and change them every 10 minutes. Acrylates pass through nitrile gloves if they are worn for longer periods of time. Other gloves, such as rubber latex gloves, are less desirable since acrylates pass through them quickly.