Bioconcentration of Polycyclic Musk Fragrances PMFs

Polycyclic musk fragrances (PMFs) are indane and tetraline derivatives with different substituents [361 a]. These chemicals with strong musk odor are used as fragrances in cosmetics and laundry detergents and are of great industrial importance. According to a study of the fragrance industry in 1987 the world- 

The bioconcentration of C labeled HHCB and AHTN in bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus) has been tested using two concentrations in a flowthrough test according to the OECD guideline 305 E [367a,b]. In both tests di-methylformamide or Tween 80 were used as solubiHzers of HHCB and AHTN. While HHCB was radiochemically pure (three isomer groups), AHTN was only 78.8% radiochemically pure. 

These BCF values of these very lipophilic polycyclic musk fragrances are relatively low compared to the predicted BCF values calculated by means of Eq. (26). At this time no exact explanation for this phenomenon can be given. It is known that the parent chemicals HHCB and AHTN are metabolized in the fish to more polar compounds that will be eliminated at a higher rate. It is also possible that the low BCF value of C-AHTN may be due to the low radiochemical purity of 78.8%. It seems therefore necessary to perform bioconcentration tests with PMFs of high purity in the absence of a solubilizer and to use water concentrations of these very lipophilic PMFs in the lower ng range, which are found in fresh water systems [362], and to use the kinetic approach. At this time no exact water solubility data are available. 

Some of these polycyclic musk fragrances were also found in humans [358-360]. Consumption of fish and other food from aquatic ecosystems contaminated with PMFs can not explain the concentration in human. It is assumed that the occurrence of these lipophilic compounds in human adipose tissue or mother s milk is mainly due to dermal sorption from cosmetics and detergents [349-351]. In the future the production and use of polycyclic musk fragrances will still increase and the nitro musk compounds will be replaced by the PMFs. 

It is assumed that some compounds of this group (AHTN and ATTN) may bind to the retinoid acid receptor (RAR) or retinoid X receptor (RXR) because their structure shows some similarity with synthetic RXR ligands [364,365]. The RAR and RXR belong to the steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptor super family. They play a central role in the regulation of many intracellular receptor pathways [366]. However, all these assumptions and predictions, especially the predicted high bioconcentration potential of the PMFs, have to be investigated experimentally. 

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