Polycyclic musk fragrances in different environmental compartments in Berlin (Germany)

The aim of this study was to obtain data about the contamination of different environmental compartments (102 surface water samples, 59 sediment samples and 165 eel samples) by polycyclic musks (HHCB, AHTN, ADBI, AHMI, and ATII) within the framework of an exposure monitoring program. Results for HHCB (Galaxolide) gave the following mean values in areas strongly polluted with sewage: surface water 1.59 micrograms l-1; sediment 0.92 mg kg-1 d.w. and eel 1513 micrograms kg-1 f.w. (in the edible portion) (6471 micrograms kg-1 lipid). The following average concentrations were found in waters hardly contaminated with sewage: surface water 0.07 microgram l-1, sediment < 0.02 mg kg-1 and eel 52 micrograms kg-1 f.w. (445 micrograms kg-1 lipid). Mean concentrations of 6.85 micrograms l-1 (maximum: 13.3 micrograms/l) could be measured at sewage treatment plants' outlets. It could be shown that these polycyclics are highly suited to use as indicators of the degree of contamination of waters with organic substances originating from sewage. A mean bioconcentration factor (BCF) on wet weight of 862 (HHCB) and 1069 (AHTN) for the transfer from water to eel under natural conditions could be calculated. The corresponding BCF-values based on the lipid content of eel were 3504 (HHCB) and 5017 (AHTN).