Polycyclic musks in the environment: A review of their concentrations and distribution, ecological effects and behavior, current concerns and future prospects

Abstract

Polycyclic musks (PCMs) are widely used in daily chemical products, so their mass production and wide use enable them to enter the environment in various ways. Their lipophilicity and persistence have led to accumulation and toxicological effects in organisms, and their long-term low-dose presence in the environment will result in serious ecological risks. Hence, PCMs have aroused widespread concerns. Although many findings about PCMs in the environment have been reported, there are knowledge gaps requiring further significant research. At present, it is necessary to review these findings to determine what has been done and what needs to be done in the future. Through analysis of reports published between 1998 and 2018, the research-based statistics related to PCMs were generally revealed. Then, the concentrations, distribution and determination methods of PCMs were discussed. In particular, efforts to elucidate the ecotoxicology and environmental behavior of PCMs were areas of focus. Finally, prospective research on the microinterface effects, further molecular mechanisms, and bioremediation of PCM-contaminated areas were discussed. It is hoped that this review can create awareness to reduce the entry of PCMs into the environment, encourage systematic thinking about PCM-associated behavioral mechanisms, and facilitate the development of bioremediation technologies to remove PCMs.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Distribution
• pollution
• polycyclic musks

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the open fund project from the Key Lab of Eco-restoration of Regional Contaminated Environment (Shenyang University) Ministry of Education, the National Key Research and Development Project (2018YFC1800702), the National Natural Foundation of Science (No. 31770547), and innovation and entrepreneurship training program for college student of Nankai University (201910055438).