Antimony

What is Antimony?

CAS#: 007440-36-0

Antimony is a silvery-white metal that is found in the earth's crust. Antimony ores are mined and then mixed with other metals to form antimony alloys or combined with oxygen to form antimony oxide.

Little antimony is currently mined in the United States. It is brought into this country from other countries for processing. However, there are companies in the United States that produce antimony as a by-product of smelting lead and other metals.

Antimony isn't used alone because it breaks easily, but when mixed into alloys, it is used in lead storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe metal, bearings, castings, and pewter. Antimony oxide is added to textiles and plastics to prevent them from catching fire. It is also used in paints, ceramics, and fireworks, and as enamels for plastics, metal, and glass.

Related Resources for Antimony & Compounds

• CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances
  Provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S. population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.
  
• Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs)
  Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at National Priorities List (NPL) sites.
• National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
  Report provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S. population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.
  
  • Results by Chemical Group
• Public Health Statement
  Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
  
• ToxFAQ
  Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions about a contaminant and its health effects.
  
• Toxicological Profile
  Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a hazardous substance.