As a reactive monomer, ethyl acrylate is used in homopolymers and copolymers with e.g. ethene, acrylic acid and its salts, amides and esters, methacrylates, acrylonitrile, maleic esters, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, styrene, butadiene and unsaturated polyesters.

Examples are the hypnotic glutethimide or the vasodilator vincamin (obsolete by now)[14] or more recent therapeutics such as the COPD agent cilomilast or the nootropic leteprinim.

[19] The International Agency for Research on Cancer stated, "Overall evaluation, ethyl acrylate is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).

In a study by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), increased incidence of squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of the forestomach were observed in rats and mice exposed via gavage (experimentally placing the chemical in the stomach).

[24] One favorable safety aspect is that ethyl acrylate has good warning properties; the odor threshold is much lower than the concentration required to create an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life and health.

Reduction of worker exposure to chemical carcinogens as much as possible through elimination or substitution and engineering controls is the primary way to prevent occupational cancer.