Occurrence of synthetic musk compounds in surface, underground, waste and processed water samples in Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

This study assessed the state of waters in Belgrade regarding pollution with musk compounds as the target contaminants. Eleven of these compounds were alicyclic, two were macrocyclic, and one was polycyclic. Solid-phase microextraction was used for the isolation of these compounds from waste, surface and underground waters and from processed water prepared for drinking, while comprehensive orthogonal two-dimensional gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was used as the final analytical method. In wastewater samples, galaxolide was detected in concentrations of 1.13 and 0.40 μg/L, while in the Sava River and underground water its concentrations were 0.09 and 0.038 μg/L. The lowest concentrations of the investigated musk compounds were detected in underground water samples, indicating that this is the cleanest water of all the analyzed sources with respect to musk compounds. Comparing the results of musk compound concentrations determined in surface river water samples and clean river water samples utilized for drinking, a lower concentration of these compounds was detected in the clean river water samples. The majority of musk compounds were found in waters utilized for drinking. Based on the concentration values, we conclude that the analyzed waters are moderately polluted with these compounds.