Antimony is used in the manufacture of paints, ceramics, glass, solders, type-metal, explosives, batteries, bearing metals and semiconductors. Antimony compounds are also used for flame proofing and as abrasives. Exposure can take place in the mining and extraction industries.
Toxicity
Antimony has similar properties and biological activity to arsenic, although it is considerably less toxic. Acute exposure causes loss of hair, dry scaly skin and weight loss. Damage to the heart, liver and kidney can occur and death from myocardial failure may follow. With chronic exposure, there are effects on the skin (antimony spots), mucous membrane (irritation) and pneumoconiosis. Treatment of Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) or Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) with antimony compounds can also lead to toxicity. Inhalation of the highly toxic gas stibine (SbH3) can result in headache, nausea and vomiting, jaundice and anaemia.
Laboratory Indices of Exposure
Occupational exposure is monitored by measurement of antimony in urine. In suspected toxicity or investigation of antimonial therapeutics, blood concentrations may also be determined.
It is important to ensure that the materials used to collect specimens to not introduce contamination with antimony. Check with the laboratory.
References:
McCallum RI. The Industrial Toxicology of Antimony. J Royal College Physicians of London 1989; 23: 28-32
Smith MM, White MA, Wilson HK. Determination of antimony in urine by solvent extraction and electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry for the biological monitoring of occupational exposure. J Anal Atomic Spect 1995; 10: 349-52
Delves HT, Sieniawska CE, Fell GS, Lyon TDB, Dezateux C, Cullen A, Variend S, Bonham JR, Chantler SM. Determination of antimony in urine, blood,and serum and in liver ad lung tissues of infants by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analyst 1997; 122: 1323-29
Schramel P, Wendler I, Angerer J. Determination of metals (antimony, bismuth, lead, cadmium, mercury, palladium, platinum, tellurium, thallium, tin and tungsten) in urine samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Int Arch Occup Environm Health 1997; 69: 219-23