| Agent Name |
Antimony |
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| CAS Number |
7440-36-0 |
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| Formula |
Sb |
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| Major Category |
Metals |
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| Synonyms |
Antimony metal; Antimony powder; Stibium; [NIOSH] UN2871 |
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| Category |
Metalloids and Compounds |
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| Description |
Silver-white, lustrous, hard, brittle solid; scale-like crystals; or a dark-gray, lustrous powder; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Antimony exposure can occur in smelting and refining operations and in alloy production. Antimony is used in glass, paints, ceramics, pigments, lead solders, and lead storage batteries. It is also used as a catalyst in the rubber and electronics industries. [Harber, p. 470] Antimony trioxide is used as a pigment for paints and a fireproofing agent for fabrics, plastics, and paper; [CAMEO] Pentavalent antimony used to treat leishmaniasis; Main use is alloy in lead storage batteries (hardener); [Nordberg, p. 355] |
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| Comments |
Pneumoconiosis and pustular dermatitis have been associated with chronic exposure to antimony dust. [LaDou, p. 431-2] Miners and millers of antimony ores may develop silicosis and mixed-dust pneumoconiosis. Workers in smelters exposed to antimony oxide may develop a simple pneumoconiosis. [Rosenstock, p. 409] A study published in 1954 of abrasive workers exposed to Sb2S3 at levels usually exceeding 3 mg/m3 found that 6 of 125 workers died of sudden cardiac deaths, and EKG changes, mostly of T waves, were found in 37 of 75 workers examined. [ACGIH] Antimony trioxide caused allergic contact dermatitis in two ceramics workers. [Kanerva, p. 1129] Antimony is a "hepatotoxic agent." [Zimmerman, p. 4] See "Antimony trioxide production." There is evidence from pharmacologic use that antimony is nephrotoxic. [Rosenstock, p. 572] See "Stibine." |
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| Reference Link |
Contact dermatitis and contact sensitization among enamellers and decorators in the ceramics industry |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
Biological monitoring of urine antimony in workers may be useful. In one study, 24 hour urine concentrations were < 1 ug/L in persons not occupationally exposed. [Nordberg, p. 359] |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| Bioaccumulates |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.5 mg/m3, as Sb |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
0.5 mg/m3, as Sb |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
50 mg/m3, as Sb |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
The revised IDLH for antimony compounds is 50 mg Sb/m3 based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Izmerov et al. 1982] and an analogy to hydrogen chloride [ACGIH 1993] which has a revised IDLH of 50 ppm (75 mg/m3). |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 720 mg/m3/2 hr |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Melting point = 630 deg C; |
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| Half Life |
Whole body: 76 hours; The pentavalent form is removed faster than trivalent form. [TDR, p. 109] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Antimony |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Fibrogenic |
Yes |
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| Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: ANTIMONY, ELEMENTAL
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