Antimony & compounds: Health effects
Description
Antimony is a non-essential element in humans, animals and plants. Its toxicity highly depends upon chemical form and oxidation state with +III compounds exerting greater toxicity than +V compounds. Antimony compounds show toxic properties similar to those of arsenic. This depends on how much antimony a person has been exposed to, for how long, and current state of health. Exposure to high levels of antimony can result in a variety of adverse health effects. Breathing high levels for a long time can irritate eyes and lungs and can cause heart and lung problems, stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach ulcers. Ingesting large doses of antimony can cause vomiting. Antimony can irritate the skin on prolonged contact.
Antimony can have beneficial effects when used for medical reasons. It has been used as a medicine to treat people infected with tropical parasites. It is not known whether elemental antimony will cause cancer in people. Human studies are inconclusive as to its human carcinogenicity, hence antimony has not been classified. Antimony trioxide is carcinogenic in animal experiments and is regarded by the International Association for Research into Cancer (IARC) as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans'. Worksafe Australia classifies antimony as hazardous.
Entering the body
Antimony can be inhaled or ingested.
Exposure
Because antimony is found naturally in the environment, the general population is exposed to low levels of it every day, primarily in food, drinking water, and air. Industries such as smelters, coal-fired plants, and refuse incinerators can release it in air, resulting in higher levels of antimony in the air, water, and soil. Workers in these industries may be exposed to higher levels.
Health guidelines
Worksafe Australia:
The eight hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit is 0.5 mg/m3 (as antimony)
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996):
Maximum of 0.003 mg/L (i.e. 0.000003 g/L)
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