Trends in the musk xylene concentrations in plasma samples from the general population from 1992/1993 to 1998 and the relevance of dermal uptake |
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Authors: | Heiko U Käfferlein Jürgen Angerer |
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Institution: | Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Universit?t Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany, DE
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Abstract: | Objectives: Musk xylene (MX), an environmentally important nitromusk compound, is used in different fragrances and soaps as substitute
for natural musk. MX is known to occur in breast milk and plasma samples from the general population. Biological monitoring
was carried out to study the change in MX concentrations in plasma from the general population over a period of about 6 years.
Methods: Forty-one human plasma samples from the general population were collected and analyzed in 1998. The MX concentrations in
plasma were compared with those in samples collected from the general population in 1992/1993. In order to␣study possible
routes of exposure, we also analyzed perfumes (n=8), various body-care products (n=17), and detergents (n=5) in the households from the persons who were exposed in 1998. The body-care products or the detergents were used every
day or at least 3–4 times per week. Results and Discussion: A remarkable decrease in MX levels was found on comparing the values from 1992/1993 and 1998. In 1998 12% (five out of 41)
of the samples analyzed yielded positive results for MX (median: <0.1 μg/l, range: <0.1–0.29 μg/l), while in 1993 MX was found
in 92% (66 out of 72) of the samples (median: 0.24 μg/l, range: <0.1–1.12 μg/l). The observed decrease is explained by the
discontinued use of MX in detergents in Germany since 1993. As a consequence, no MX could be found in the investigated detergents
in the present study. However, MX could be analyzed in at least one perfume and/or perfumed body-care product of the exposed
individuals. The concentrations were in the range between 8.8 and 28.8 mg/kg in the investigated products. Because other confounding
factors, e.g. diet and occupational exposure, could be excluded, the results point to the possibility that MX can be taken
up through the skin. However, the small number of investigated persons limits this assumption.
Received: 23 October 2000 / Accepted: 18 April 2001 |
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Keywords: | Musk xylene Biological monitoring Dermal absorption General population |
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