Toxicity Profile for Musk ketone (1996)

Abstract

In rabbits, a single application of musk ketone was not a direct skin irritant; however, some indications of irritancy were seen in guinea-pigs treated with a dilute solution when the test site was subsequently exposed to UV light. Two volunteer studies generated no evidence of skin sensitization potential and patch test results (from dermatitis patients) have not contradicted this conclusion. There is evidence of a weak sensitizing and photosensitizing ability in the guinea-pig. Musk ketone was of low acute oral and dermal toxicity in the rat and rabbit respectively. Liver damage and reduced red blood cell production occurred in rabbits after repeated dermal exposure. A repeated dermal study in rats failed to identify any specific target of musk ketone toxicity. No mutagenic activity was seen in an Ames bacterial test and there was no convincing evidence of genotoxicity in mammalian cells in culture. A structurally related material (musk xylene) produced liver tumours when fed to mice.