A critical review of surface water and fish monitoring data of the fragrance ingredient, Cashmeran

Abstract

6,7-Dihydro-1,1,2,3,3-pentamethyl-4(5H)-indanone or commonly, Cashmeran® (DPMI) is a prominent fragrance ingredient. Despite its measured low bioconcentration factor (BCF) and risk assessments demonstrating low risk, monitoring studies continue to characterize the presence of DPMI in surface water and fish. To consolidate these findings, a comprehensive literature review and an information synthesis was conducted. The reported levels of DPMI were compared to exposure model estimates using the physico-chemical properties, measured BCF, and representative volumes of use of DPMI. To make use of the fish monitoring data, fish tissue dry weight concentrations were converted to wet-weight concentrations to compare to model estimates. The 90th percentile surface water and fish tissue concentrations of DPMI were 0.052 µg/L and 5.0 µg/kg ww, respectively. DPMI levels were low or non-detectable in surface waters and in fish more distant from sources of pollution. Exposure modeling results using the low end of the volume of use range of DPMI, or 100T, were conservative or comparable to the 90th percentile surface water and fish concentrations of DPMI. This analysis indicates that the levels of DPMI measured in the environment are not elevated, are orders of magnitude below ecotoxicological effect levels and confirm the likelihood that DPMI is not bioaccumulative as indicated by laboratory studies. Should future studies be performed, they should characterize bioaccumulation in the field through simultaneous fish and water sampling in the same location. In addition, fish lipid content and wet weight should be reported. Importantly, samples should be of known origin and methodology be made transparent.