Biochemical implication of Bio-accumulation of Musk xylene from Industrial effluent.

1. BIOCHEMICAL IMPLICATION OF BIOACCUMULATION OF MUSK XYLENE FROM
INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT
A
SEMINAR
PRESENTED
BY
DAVID, JOSHUA
B.Sc. BIOCHEMISTRY (UPH)
G2016/M.Sc./BCH/FT/023
TO
DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT
COURSE CODE: BCH 818.2
COURSE TITLE: SEMINAR
SUPERVISORS: (1) DR. J. C. IKEWUCHI
(2) DR. D. E. PETERS
SEMINAR CO-ORDINATORS:
DR. (MRS) B. ONYEGEME-OKERENTA
AND
DR. B. A. AMADI
AUGUST, 2017.

2. INTRODUCTION
Musk compounds are synthetic fragrances.
Classes of synthetic musk fragrances include:
Nitromusks
Polycyclic musks
Macrocyclic musks
and alicyclic (or linear) musks.
Nitromusks were the first produced compounds of this type.
Musk xylene (MX), with the IUPAC nomenclature 1-tert-butyl-5-
dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene is a member of this group.
This compound show musk-like odour in spite of the fact that its
structure is very different from natural musk compounds.
It is partially soluble in water (0.15 ng.L-1).
It has relatively high octanol-water partition coefficients (log Kow =
4.9)
MX is also relatively persistent.
According to data published till now:
They are potentially toxic over long time period.
It has been suggested that their transformation products are potentially
highly toxic.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Although human use of household and personal care products containing nitro musks is the
primary route of human exposure, it was the presence of these compounds in environmental
samples that originally drove concern about the biological and environmental effects of nitro
musks in the 1980s.
Studies have shown the presence nitro musk in more than 80% of freshwater fish samples,
river water, and waste water.
MX is not easily degradable, which accounts in part for their widespread presence in
environmental samples.
Nitro musks make their way from personal use settings and into wastewater by:
passage through sewage treatment plants.
By-products of nitro musks have been found in sampled sewage treatment plant effluents.
Furthermore, the biotransformation products of nitro musks created by the sewage treatment
process might also be of interest in risk assessment.
Biotransformation products of MX have been found in aquatic systems at higher
concentrations than the parent compound .
Transformed products of MX are also environmentally persistent.
Wastewater effluent has the ability to affect the concentrations of chemicals in surface water in
the following ways:
When contaminated water sources are used to supply water treatment plants.
Where it used to recharge groundwater.
A vast number of people may be exposed to MX.

4. TRANSFORMATION PRODUCTS OF MX
Figure 1: UV induced intramolecular reaction of MX

5. TRANSFORMATION PRODUCTS OF MX Cont.
Figure 2: Bioreduction of MX

6. ROUTES OF EXPOSURE TO MX
Product Mass fraction (%)
Skin cream 0.0075
Deodorant 0.0075
Shampoo 0.01
Household detergents 0.02
Aftershave 0.03
Toilet soap 0.04
Air freshener 0.07
Cologne 0.075
Fine fragrance 0.05-0.1
Industrial effluent
Personal hygiene products as shown below;
Table 1: Personal hygiene products containing MX
Sources: European Union Risk Assessment Report (2005).

7. BIOACCUMULATION OF MX AND IMPLICATION
According to the European Union Risk Assessment report (2005) for Musk Xylene:
The report proposed bioaccumulation factor (BCF) of 4,400 l/kg
A number studies reported BCF values between 4,000-5000 l/kg
Calculated BCF based on partition coefficiency of octanol-water (log Kow = 4.9)
is 2900l/kg.
What are the Biochemical Implications of MX?
In particular, the 4-amino-MX transformation product was identified in
the bile, breast milk, faeces as well as in urine.
High serum levels of musk xylene in women has been associated with
gynecological abnormalities, including mild insufficiency of the ovaries
and compromised fertility in women.
Musk xylene may disrupt the human endocrine system.
Animal studies indicate that musk xylene may have carcinogenic
properties.
In particular, liver cancer has been observed in rats treated with musk
xylene
This may be due to the ability of MX to induce specific cytochrome P450
enzymes linked to cancer (e.g CYP2B6 and CYPIA2).

8. CONCLUSION
The body of literature supports the conclusion that not
only are humans being exposed to MX, but also
bioaccumulating and passing it on to offspring through
breast milk and prenatal exposures. In light of the
foregoing evidence, precautionary principle should be
taken into account. This can be done through a reduction
in the use and production of products containing MX.

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11. THANK YOU.