The high use of nitro musk xylene (MX) and musk ketone (MK) as fragrances, and their persistence and bioaccumulation potential make them ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The 4-amino-MX (AMX) and 2-amino-MK (AMK) metabolites have been detected in trout fish hemoglobin (Hb) samples by gas chromatography-ion trap-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twelve Hb samples prepared from rainbow trout that were exposed to MX and MK, over a period of 24 and 72 h, were analyzed. Amino metabolites were liberated by basic hydrolysis and extracted from the fish Hb into n-hexane. The extract was concentrated, analyzed, and spiked with a standard solution (80 pg/µl) of AMX or AMK and reanalyzed. Concentrations of AMX from 10 to 25 ng/g were detected in Hb from fish taken 24 and 72 h after MX exposure. At 24 and 72 h after MK exposure, the concentration of AMK was found to be 25-51 ng/g and 9.5-25 ng/g, respectively. Concentrations of AMK in Hb from two of the three trout were substantially lower after 72 h compared with 24 h exposure. The AMX and AMK metabolites were not detected in four control samples. Average recoveries exceeding 89 and 86% could be achieved for AMX and AMK, respectively, with a coefficient of variation (CV) around 5%. |
