The　concentrations　and　distributions　of　six　polycyclic　musks　and　two　nitro　musks　in　Suzhou　Creek,　influent/effluent　of　a　sewage　treatment　plant　(STP),　and　household　commodities　were　investigated　and　discussed　in　this　study.　The　levels　of　1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexa-methylcyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran　(HHCB)　and　7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene　(AHTN)　in　Suzhou　Creek　were　3-78　ng　g(-1)　(dry　weight)　and　2-31　ng　g(-1)　(dry　weight)　in　sediments,　while　20-93　ng　l(-1)　and　8-20　ng　l(-1)　in　surface　waters.　The　results　indicated　a　low　proportion　of　wastewater　burden　in　this　river.　The　concentrations　of　HHCB　and　AHTN　in　the　effluent　of　the　STP　were　5-　to　6-fold　higher　than　those　in　Suzhou　Creek.　The　amounts　discharged　into　the　aquatic　environment　from　sewage　in　Shanghai　are　1.26　t　(HHCB)　and　0.38　t　(AHTN)　in　2007,　and　the　input　into　the　STPs　is　estimated　to　be　HHCB　0.2　g　y(-1)　and　AHTN　0.06　g　y(-1)　per　inhabitant,　respectively.　A　broad　concentration　range　of　HHCB　and　AHTN　could　be　observed　in　household　commodities.　The　distributions　are　in　accordance　with　the　profiles　of　musks　in　aquatic　environment,　with　HHCB　and　AHTN　being　the　major　components.　(C)　2008　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.