Synthetic musk residues in biota and water from Tama River and Tokyo Bay (Japan).

Abstract

Musk xylene and musk ketone (synthetic musks) were detected in 100% and 80%, respectively of 74 samples, [freshwater fish (three species), marine shellfish (four species), river water, and wastewater (three sewage treatment plants)] collected from several sampling stations along the Tama River, a dam, and Tokyo Bay, during July and October, 1980 and 1981. The average concentrations of musk xylene were 53.9 ppb in the viscera of freshwater fish, 16.0 ppb in the fish muscle, and 2.7 ppb in marine shellfish; the mean levels of musk ketone were 30.5 ppb in the viscera, 7.8 ppb in the muscle, and 1.6 ppb in the shellfish. The mean levels in river water were 4.1 ppt for musk xylene and 9.9 ppt for musk ketone, but no detectable levels of musk ketone were found in freshwater fish and river water upstream of the Tama River and the dam. The highest concentrations of both compounds were observed in freshwater fish down-stream, and that in water samples were found in wastewater from the sewage treatment plants, situated along the banks of the river. The results suggested that both compounds exist as bioaccumulation-type pollutants in the aquatic ecosystem.