Behaviour of synthetic musk fragrances in freshwaters: occurrence, relations with environmental parameters, and preliminary risk assessment

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 30; no. 50; pp. 109643 - 109658
• Main Authors: Tasselli, Stefano, Rogora, Michela, Orrù, Arianna, Guzzella, Licia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-10-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Contamination; Dry season; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Effluents; Environment; Environmental assessment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental risk; Fragrances; Fresh water; Human influences; Musk; Nutrient content; Organic carbon; Parameters; Research Article; Risk assessment; Risk levels; Rivers; Sediment analysis; Sediments; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Water flow; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Watersheds; Freshwaters; Environmental fate; Synthetic musk compounds; Sediments; Ecological risk assessment
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30030-9

The aims of this study were to investigate the presence, possible sources, and potential ecological risks of synthetic musk fragrances in freshwaters and sediments of the main tributaries of a deep subalpine lake in Northern Italy. The total musk concentrations ranged from few ng L
−1
up to values > 500 ng L
−1
, depending on river characteristics: water flow and the presence of wastewater effluents proved to be the main factors affecting fragrance concentrations. The water flow may indeed dilute fragrance input mainly deriving from treated wastewaters. Good correlations (determination coefficients > 0.60) between synthetic fragrances concentrations and parameters related to anthropogenic impacts confirmed this hypothesis: synthetic fragrances were mainly detected in most polluted rivers crossing urbanized areas. Sediment analysis highlighted accumulation of fragrances in this matrix. Concentrations of synthetic fragrances up to 329 ng g
−1
organic carbon were measured in sediments of the most contaminated rivers Boesio and Bardello, which also show the highest nutrient content. The preliminary environmental risk assessment revealed that present levels of synthetic musk fragrances do not pose any risk to the studied environmental compartments. However, a probable medium risk level was evidenced during the dry season in the most contaminated rivers Boesio and Bardello. For these reasons, small rivers draining urbanized watersheds and affected by wastewater effluents should be considered synthetic musk contamination hotspots that warrant further research.