It is produced industrially from propene and mainly used as a biocide and a building block to other chemical compounds, such as the amino acid methionine.

The process uses air as the source of oxygen and requires metal oxides as heterogeneous catalysts:[5] About 500,000 tons of acrolein are produced in this way annually in North America, Europe, and Japan.

Via Diels-Alder reactions, it is a precursor to some commercial fragrances, including myrac aldehyde ("lyral") and norbornene-2-carboxaldehyde.

The French used the chemical in their hand grenades and artillery shells[9] during World War I under the name "Papite".

[10] Acrolein is mainly used as a contact herbicide to control submersed and floating weeds, as well as algae, in irrigation canals.

In the oil and gas industry, it is used as a biocide in drilling waters, as well as a scavenger for hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans.

[citation needed] Acrolein has been used as a fixative in preparation of biological specimens for electron microscopy.

The WHO suggests a "tolerable oral acrolein intake" of 7.5 μg per day per kg of body weight.

[14] Acrolein acts in an immunosuppressive manner and may promote regulatory cells,[15] thereby preventing the generation of allergies on the one hand, but also increasing the risk of cancer.

[16] Connections exist between acrolein gas in the smoke from tobacco cigarettes and the risk of lung cancer.

[18] The mechanism of action of acrolein appears to involve induction of increased reactive oxygen species and DNA damage related to oxidative stress.

[27] Acrolein produced during cyclophosphamide treatment collects in the urinary bladder and if untreated can cause hemorrhagic cystitis.