chemical Class

Polycyclic Musks


Chemicals in the class:

Cashmeran, Celestolide, Galaxolide, Phantolide, Tonalide, Traseolide

Found in these people:

Suzie Canales, Jean Salone, Jennifer Hill-Kelley, Dr. Beverly Wright, Vivian Chang, Adult #108, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 20, Anonymous Adult 2, Anonymous Adult 6, Anonymous Adult 7, Anonymous Adult 9, Anonymous Adult 12, Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 18, Anonymous Adult 20, Anonymous Adult 21, Anonymous Adult 10, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 19, Asta Haman-Dicko, Rizza Alcaria, Alex Wells, Anonymous Teen 20, Emma Spencer, Sydney Blankers, Caroline Burlingame, Donalin Cazeau, Jenny Gilbertson, Anonymous Teen 21, Anonymous Teen 1, Anonymous Adult 15, Anonymous Adult 16

Found in these locations:

Corpus Christi, TX; Green Bay, WI; New Orleans, LA; Oakland, CA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Lamont, FL; Atlanta, GA; Mountain View, CA; Stanford, CA; Alamo, CA; Fallbrook, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Leandro, CA; Manteca, CA; Washington, DC; Austin, TX; Winchester, MA; Belmont, CA; Langhorne, PA; Dorchester, MA; Novato, CA; Berkeley, CA





Polycyclic Musks

Polycyclic Musks has been found in 36 of the 52 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.

Top health concerns for Polycyclic Musks (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Endocrine systemlimited

Other health concerns for Polycyclic Musks (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Gastrointestinal (including liver)unknown
Chronic effects, generalunknown

Other relevant risk considerations for Polycyclic Musks (References)

Wildlife and environmental toxicity.


Toxicity Classifications (References)

classification governing entity/references
Chronic effects, general - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedLuckenbach, T. and D. Epel (2005). "Nitromusk and polycyclic musk compounds as long-term inhibitors of cellular xenobiotic defense systems mediated by multidrug transporters." Environ Health Perspect 113(1): 17-24.
Endocrine disruptor - suspected or limited evidenceSeinen, W., J. G. Lemmen, et al. (1999). "AHTN and HHCB show weak estrogenic--but no uterotrophic activity." Toxicol Lett 111(1-2): 161-8., Schreurs, R. H., E. Sonneveld, et al. (2005b). "Interaction of polycyclic musks and UV filters with the estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), and progesterone receptor (PR) in reporter gene bioassays." Toxicol Sci 83(2): 264-72., Schreurs, R. H., E. Sonneveld, et al. (2005a). "Examination of the in vitro (anti)estrogenic, (anti)androgenic and (anti)dioxin-like activities of tetralin, indane and isochroman derivatives using receptor-specific bioassays." Toxicol Lett 156(2): 261-75., Bitsch, N., C. Dudas, et al. (2002). "Estrogenic activity of musk fragrances detected by the E-screen assay using human mcf-7 cells." Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 43(3): 257-64., Gomez, E., A. Pillon, et al. (2005). "Estrogenic activity of cosmetic components in reporter cell lines: parabens, UV screens, and musks." J Toxicol Environ Health A 68(4): 239-51.
Gastrointestinal system toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedSteinberg, P., T. Fischer, et al. (1999). "Acute hepatotoxicity of the polycyclic musk 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphtaline (AHTN)." Toxicol Lett 111(1-2): 151-60.
Wildlife and environmental toxicityBalk F, Ford RA. 1999. Environmental risk assessment for the polycyclic musks AHTN and HHCB in the EU. I. Fate and exposure assessment. Toxicology letters 111(1-2): 57-79. Wollenberger L, Breitholtz M, Ole Kusk K, Bengtsson BE. 2003. Inhibition of larval development of the marine copepod Acartia tonsa by four synthetic musk substances. Sci Total Environ 305(1-3): 53-64. Carlsson G, Norrgren L. 2004. Synthetic musk toxicity to early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 46(1): 102-105., Breitholtz M, Wollenberger L, Dinan L. 2003. Effects of four synthetic musks on the life cycle of the harpacticoid copepod Nitocra spinipes. Aquat Toxicol 63(2): 103-118. Wollenberger L, Breitholtz M, Ole Kusk K, Bengtsson BE. 2003. Inhibition of larval development of the marine copepod Acartia tonsa by four synthetic musk substances. Sci Total Environ 305(1-3): 53-64.