— Abstract. Although occupational exposure to antimony and its compounds can produce pulmonary toxicity, human carcinogenic impacts have not been observed. Inhalation studies with respirable antimony xide particles administered to rats and mice have, however, induced carcinogenic responses in the lungs and related tissue sites.

 — Antimony compounds do not induce gene mutations in bacteria or cultured mammalian cells, but chromosome aberrations and micronuclei have been observed, usually at highly cytotoxic concentrations. Indirect mechanisms of genotoxicity have been proposed to mediate these responses.

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.

 — Conclusions: Antimony carcinogenicity evidence involving workers is inadequate, based on confounding, small sample sizes, incomparability across studies, and inadequate reference populations. An increased lung cancer risk cannot be excluded.

Antimony toxicity is dependent on the exposure dose, duration, route (breathing, eating, drinking, or skin contact), other chemical exposures, age, , nutritional status, family traits, life style, and state of health.

 — Evidence for lung neoplasms caused by antimony xide inhalation in experimental animals is sufficient. Overall, carcinogenicity in workers is probable (International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2A).

 — Antimony (Sb), a priority pollutant listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), can cause adverse effects on human health, with particular impacts on skin, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory system.

Animal studies have examined potential hematological effects of three antimony compounds (metallic antimony, antimony xide, and antimony potassium tartrate) following intermediate-duration exposure.

Food contains small amounts of antimony: the average concentration of antimony in meats, vegetables, and seafood is 0.2 to 1.1 parts per billion (ppb). (1) People who work in industries that process antimony ore and metal, or make antimony oxide, may be exposed to antimony by breathing dust or by skin contact. (1) Assessing Personal Exposure

companies that change antimony ores into metal or make antimony oxide, concentrations may be more than 1,000 ng/m³. You may breathe high levels of antimony in dust if you live or work near antimony mines or processing companies. The concentration of antimony that is dissolved in rivers and lakes is very low, usually less than 5