| pubmed-article:8268706 | pubmed:abstractText | Musk xylene, ketone, ambrette, tibetene and moskene are synthetic nitroaromatic compounds. Because of their scent, they are used as substitutes for natural musk. In particular musk xylene and musk ketone are added to cosmetics, washing agents and other products. Acute toxicity of nitro musks has been estimated to be low. Knowledge on the toxicokinetics, chronic toxicity, as well as mutagenic and carcinogenic potential is based so far on only few studies. First evidence for the persistence of these lipophilic compounds in the environment and their potential to accumulate in organisms came from their identification in the aquatic ecosystem. Nitro musks have now been identified in mother's milk. The analysis of 391 samples from Southern Bavaria, Germany, in 1991 and 1992 revealed concentrations of musk xylene ranging from 0.01-1.22 mg/kg fat with a mean content of 0.10 mg/kg fat. This was 2-3 times higher than the mean contents of musk ketone or musk ambrette. Average levels of the nitro musks were in the range of those usually found for various chlorinated compounds like hexachlorocyclohexanes and cis-heptachloroepoxide. Because of their presence in cosmetic products and washing agents dermal absorption could be an important route of uptake of nitro musks in man. Toxicologic relevance of the present findings for humans is still unclear. In order to assess consequences for health, further investigation of effects caused by a continual uptake of small amounts of these substances is necessary. | lld:pubmed |
