Contamination levels and distribution of seven synthetic musks in Suzhou Creek were investigated in this study. Two polycyclic musks, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8-hexahydro-4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8-hexamethylcyclopenta（g）-2-benzopyran （HHCB） and 7-acetyl-1, 1, 1, 3, 4, 4, 6-hexamethyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydronaphthalene （AHTN）, were found in all samples. The ranges of HHCB and AHTN were from 8 ng/L to 138 ng/L and from 1 ng/L to 25 ng/L in surface waters, and from 2 ng/g to 77 ng/g （dry weight） and from 1 ng/g to 31 ng/g （dry weight） in sediments respectively. The total concentration of HHCB and AHTN showed obvious spatial change in surface waters： the upper reaches （suburb） 13 less than the lower course （urban area）; and in sediments, the musk levels were also higher in urban area. The distribution pattern also showed seasonaly varied characteristics both in surface waters and sediments. The distribution coefficient （Kp） and standardized distribution coefficient （Koc） were calculated through musk concentrations and octanol-water partition coefficient （Kow）. The results showed that AHTN was more easily absorbed in sediments. The adsorption of musk was increased with the increasing of total organic carbon （TOC） in Suzhou Creek. The significant positive correlation of HHCB and AHTN was found in this study, which indicated the same pollution source： the use and discharge of flavoring substances.
Synthetic musks are used as additives in many household products.After absorption into the human body,they accumulate and their concentrations in human milk reflect both the mother and her infant＇s exposure level.Concentrations of four synthetic musks,musk xylene（1-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene,MX）,musk ketone（4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitroacetophenone,MK）,1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[γ]-2-benzopyran（HHCB） and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4tetrahydronaphthalene（AHTN）,were determined in human milk samples collected from Shanghai,Wuxi,and Shaoxing in Eastern China.The four synthetic musks were found in most samples analyzed,with HHCB the dominant component followed by MX.The median（mean） values for HHCB,AHTN,MX and MK concentrations were 63（82）,5（12）,17（24） and 4（9） ng/g lipid weight,respectively.These data suggested the total synthetic musk contamination was low,and the distribution percentage was HHCB 〉 MX 〉 AHTN ≈ MK.The relative high ratio of nitro to polycylic musk indicated that nitro musks were still widely used.The musk concentrations in these cities were not significantly different from each other（p 〉 0.05）.Principal components score plots were obtained,which showed similar exposure sources.The amount of total synthetic musks in human milk were not associated with mother＇s age,although HHCB was significantly correlated with AHTN（p 〈 0.05）.Daily ingestion of HHCB,AHTN,MX and MK for infants from human milk were estimated as（2526 ± 2926）,（370 ± 524）,（7391 ± 832）,and（277 ± 462） ng/day,respectively.Those doses were 1-2 orders of magnitude below the provisional tolerable daily intakes.
Xiaolan ZhangGaofeng LiangXiangying ZengJing ZhouGuoying ShengJiamo Fu
