chemical Class

Nitro Musks


Chemicals in the class:

Musk ambrette, Musk ketone, Musk moskene, Musk tibetene, Musk xylene

Found in these people:

Anonymous Adult 4, Anonymous Adult 13, Anonymous Adult 10, Anonymous Adult 20, Anonymous Adult 5, Anonymous Adult 12, Anonymous Adult 11, Anonymous Adult 3, Anonymous Adult 7, Anonymous Adult 15, Jessica Assaf, Asta Haman-Dicko, Rizza Alcaria, Natalie Klapper, Anonymous Teen 21

Found in these locations:

Washington, DC; Stanford, CA; San Francisco, CA; Fallbrook, CA; Fredericksburg, VA; Mountain View, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Newton, MA; Lamont, FL; Berkeley, CA; San Rafael, CA; San Leandro, CA; Manteca, CA





Nitro Musks

Nitro Musks has been found in 15 of the 52 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.

Top health concerns for Nitro Musks (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Cancerlimited
Endocrine systemunknown

Other health concerns for Nitro Musks (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Chronic effects, generalunknown
Reproduction and fertilityunknown
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)possible
Skinunknown
Brain and nervous systemunknown

Other relevant risk considerations for Nitro Musks (References)

Wildlife and environmental toxicity.


Toxicity Classifications (References)

classification governing entity/references
Cancer - limited evidence of carcinogenicityApostolidis, S., T. Chandra, et al. (2002). "Evaluation of carcinogenic potential of two nitro-musk derivatives, musk xylene and musk tibetene in a host-mediated in vivo/in vitro assay system." Anticancer Res 22(5): 2657-62., Maekawa, A., Y. Matsushima, et al. (1990). "Long-term toxicity/carcinogenicity of musk xylol in B6C3F1 mice." Food Chem Toxicol 28(8): 581-6.
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 evidenceBitsch, 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., Chou, Y. J. and D. R. Dietrich (1999). "Interactions of nitromusk parent compounds and their amino-metabolites with the estrogen receptors of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)." Toxicol Lett 111(1-2): 27-36.
Endocrine system toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedBitsch N, Dudas C, Korner W, Failing K, Biselli S, Rimkus G, 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): 257-264.
Limited evidence in humans - endocrine system toxicityEisenhardt, S., B. Runnebaum, et al. (2001). "Nitromusk compounds in women with gynecological and endocrine dysfunction." Environ Res 87(3): 123-30.
Limited evidence in humans - skin toxicityParker, R. D., E. V. Buehler, et al. (1986). "Phototoxicity, photoallergy, and contact sensitization of nitro musk perfume raw materials." Contact Dermatitis 14(2): 103-9.
Nervous system toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedSpencer PS, Bischoff-Fenton MC, Moreno OM, Opdyke DL, Ford RA. 1984. Neurotoxic properties of musk ambrette. Toxicology and applied pharmacology 75(3): 571-575. Rimkus G, Butte W, Geyer H. 1997. Critical conciderations on the analysis and bioaccumulation of Musk Xylene and other synthetic nitro musks in fish. Chemosphere 35(7): 1497-1507. Ford RA, Api AM, Newberne PM. 1990. 90-day dermal toxicity study and neurotoxicity evaluation of nitromusks in the albino rat. Food Chem Toxicol 28(1): 55-61.
Potential breast cancer risksBitsch N, Dudas C, Korner W, Failing K, Biselli S, Rimkus G, 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): 257-264.
Reproductive effects - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedEisenhardt S, Runnebaum B, Bauer K, Gerhard I. 2001. Nitromusk compounds in women with gynecological and endocrine dysfunction. Environ Res 87(3): 123-130., Rimkus GG, Wolf M. 1996. Polycyclic musk fragrances in human adipose tissue and human milk. Chemosphere 33(10): 2033-2043. Rimkus G, Butte W, Geyer H. 1997. Critical conciderations on the analysis and bioaccumulation of Musk Xylene and other synthetic nitro musks in fish. Chemosphere 35(7): 1497-1507. Ford RA, Api AM, Newberne PM. 1990. 90-day dermal toxicity study and neurotoxicity evaluation of nitromusks in the albino rat. Food Chem Toxicol 28(1): 55-61.
Reproductive toxicant - limited evidenceEisenhardt, S., B. Runnebaum, et al. (2001). "Nitromusk compounds in women with gynecological and endocrine dysfunction." Environ Res 87(3): 123-30.
Skin sensitizerParker, R. D., E. V. Buehler, et al. (1986). "Phototoxicity, photoallergy, and contact sensitization of nitro musk perfume raw materials." Contact Dermatitis 14(2): 103-9., Parker RD, Buehler EV, Newmann EA. 1986. Phototoxicity, photoallergy, and contact sensitization of nitro musk perfume raw materials. Contact dermatitis 14(2): 103-109., Cronin E. 1984. Photosensitivity to musk ambrette. Contact dermatitis 11(2): 88-92. Parker RD, Buehler EV, Newmann EA. 1986. Phototoxicity, photoallergy, and contact sensitization of nitro musk perfume raw materials. Contact dermatitis 14(2): 103-109. Menz J, Muller SA, Connolly SM. 1988. Photopatch testing: a six-year experience. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 18(5 Pt 1): 1044-1047. Thune P, Jansen C, Wennersten G, Rystedt I, Brodthagen H, McFadden N. 1988. The Scandinavian multicenter photopatch study 1980-1985: final report. Photo-dermatology 5(6): 261-269. DeLeo VA, Suarez SM, Maso MJ. 1992. Photoallergic contact dermatitis. Results of photopatch testing in New York, 1985 to 1990. Archives of dermatology 128(11): 1513-1518. FDA (Food and Drug Administration). 1992. Cosmetic Handbook. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition: FDA/Industry Activities Staff Booklet: 1992.
Skin toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedHayakawa R, Matsunaga K, Arima Y. 1987. Depigmented contact dermatitis due to incense. Contact dermatitis 16(5): 272-274., Parker RD, Buehler EV, Newmann EA. 1986. Phototoxicity, photoallergy, and contact sensitization of nitro musk perfume raw materials. Contact dermatitis 14(2): 103-109.
Strong evidence in humans - skin toxicityCronin E. 1984. Photosensitivity to musk ambrette. Contact dermatitis 11(2): 88-92. Parker RD, Buehler EV, Newmann EA. 1986. Phototoxicity, photoallergy, and contact sensitization of nitro musk perfume raw materials. Contact dermatitis 14(2): 103-109. Menz J, Muller SA, Connolly SM. 1988. Photopatch testing: a six-year experience. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 18(5 Pt 1): 1044-1047. Thune P, Jansen C, Wennersten G, Rystedt I, Brodthagen H, McFadden N. 1988. The Scandinavian multicenter photopatch study 1980-1985: final report. Photo-dermatology 5(6): 261-269. DeLeo VA, Suarez SM, Maso MJ. 1992. Photoallergic contact dermatitis. Results of photopatch testing in New York, 1985 to 1990. Archives of dermatology 128(11): 1513-1518. FDA (Food and Drug Administration). 1992. Cosmetic Handbook. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition: FDA/Industry Activities Staff Booklet: 1992.
Wildlife and environmental toxicityChou YJ, Dietrich DR. 1999. Interactions of nitromusk parent compounds and their amino-metabolites with the estrogen receptors of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Toxicology letters 111(1-2): 27-36. 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. Carlsson G, Norrgren L. 2004. Synthetic musk toxicity to early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 46(1): 102-105.