Ecotoxicology of Musks

Abstract

Due to the fact that both nitro and polycyclic musks and their metabolites are found in the aquatic environment and appear to accumulate in some of the species, the past and most recent research has focused mainly on possible ecotoxicological effects of musks in aquatic rather than terrestrial species. The compilation of the newest available data for aquatic interactions demonstrates in general that neither parent compounds nor the metabolites of nitro and polycyclic musks pose any significant hazard for the aquatic ecosystem. The observation that amphibians appear more susceptible to endocrine modulating effects of xenobiotics than other species mandates that the interactions of the nitro musk metabolites with the Xenopus laevis estrogen receptor, as presented in this review, are investigated in more detail. Such an investigation appears warranted despite the fact that all observed adverse interactions of nitro and polycyclic musks occur at concentrations several orders of magnitude higher than those detected in the environment.