Levels of synthetic musks; Bromocyclene and PCBs in eel (anguilla anguilla) and PCBs in sediment samples from some waters of Berlin / Germany

The purpose of this study was to identify firstly the extent of contamination both of the aquatic biota and of sediments and secondly any regional differences in the concentrations of these compounds. In 1996, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, including their coplanar congeners) were measured in 58 eel and 50 sediment samples. Furthermore, the veterinary pharmaceutical bromocyclene and the nitro musks were determined in 84 (1995) and 122 (1996) eel samples. Polycyclic musk fragrances were additionally determined in analyses carried out in 1996. The mean values obtained during the two measurement periods (1995 and 1996) were 24 and 12 μg/kg fw. for musk xylene, 41 and 39 pg/kg fw. for musk ketone, 14 and 7 μg/kg fw. for bromocyclene and, in 1996, 592 μg/kg fw. for HHCB (maximum: 4131 μg/kg fw.). Decreasing contamination levels are seen for musk xylene and bromocylene but not for musk ketone. This tendency, and the high amounts of polycyclic musk fragrances in the edible parts of eel show that these musks are widely being used in place of nitro musks and that they reach the aquatic system via waste waters, especially those of sewage treatment plants. The mean levels of PCBs in the biota samples of a highly polluted area were 1227 μg/kg fw. or 119 pgTEQ/g (sediment: 203 μg/kg dw.) and of a slightly polluted area 340 μg/kg fw. or 49 TEQ/g (sediment: 47 μg/kg dw.).