Antimony toxicity occurs either
due to occupational exposure or during therapy
. Occupational exposure may cause respiratory irritation, pneumoconiosis, antimony spots on the skin and gastrointestinal symptoms. In addition antimony trioxide is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Why is antimony poisonous?
It is believed that the toxicity of antimony and of arsenic is due to
the fact that in combination with enzymes (the organic catalysts of the cell) they interfere with cellular metabolism
.
Is antimony harmful to human health?
Exposure to relatively high concentrations of antimony (9 mg/m
3
of air) for a longer period of time can cause
irritation
of the eyes, skin and lungs. As the exposure continues more serious health effects may occur, such as lung diseases, heart problems, diarrhea, severe vomiting and stomach ulcers.
What are the side effects of antimony poisoning?
Symptoms of severe antimony poisoning include
vomiting, watery diarrhea, collapse, irregular respiration, and hypothermia
. A single dose of potassium antimony tartrate (equivalent to 0.53 mg Sb/kg) produced vomiting (Dunn, 1928).
Is antimony safe to inhale?
Acute (short-term) exposure to antimony by inhalation in humans results in effects on the skin and eyes. Respiratory effects, such as inflammation of the lungs, chronic bronchitis, and chronic emphysema, are the primary effects noted from chronic (long-term) exposure to antimony in humans via inhalation.
Is antimony a neurotoxin?
Antimony (Sb), a naturally occurring metal present in air and drinking water, has been found in the human brain, and there is evidence of its toxic effects on neurobehavioral perturbations, suggesting that Sb
is a potential nerve poison
.
How do you detox from antimony?
Picture this. You swallow a little pill,
wait until it irritates your intestines enough to expel its contents
and then hunt through the expelled excrement to retrieve the pill.
Is antimony good for eyes?
Asmad/ Antimony sulphide is one of the famous product available in Asian and Middle East countries and being used since long ago for eye cleansing, strengthening, brightening and improve the vision. In Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the use of Asmad is
frequent in healthy eyes
because of Islamic and historical importance.
Is antimony a heavy metal?
11 – Other heavy metals: antimony, cadmium, chromium and mercury.
Why is antimony so explosive?
Electrolytic deposition of antimony under certain conditions produces an unstable, amorphous form called “explosive antimony,” because,
when bent or scratched, it will change in a mildly explosive manner to the more stable, metallic form
.
How does antimony get into the body?
Antimony can enter your body
when you drink water or eat food, soil, or other substances that contain antimony
. Antimony can also enter your body if you breathe air or dust containing antimony.
How much antimony is lethal?
The lethal oral dose of metallic antimony in rats is
100 mg/kg of body weight
; the trivalent and pentavalent oxides are less toxic, with LD50 in rats ranging from 3200–4000 mg/kg of body weight. The recommended workplace limit (ACGIH TLV-TWA) for antimony is 0.5 mg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
Can antimony be absorbed through the skin?
Exposure to high levels of antimony trioxide or a mixture of antimony trioxide and pentoxide resulted in death in rabbits (Myers et al. 1978). Since the application area was occluded, the study suggests that
at least some forms of antimony can be absorbed through the skin
.
Why is my antimony high?
Drinking water from some plastic water bottles may contain higher levels of antimony, but these levels are not known to cause health effects. Higher levels of antimony may be found
near waste sites or industries
that process or release it, such as smelters, coal-fired plants, and garbage incinerators.
What are the effects of arsenic on human health?
Breathing in high levels of arsenic can cause a
sore throat and irritated lungs
. Swallowing high levels of arsenic can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness and cramping, skin rashes, and other problems. Exposure to high enough amounts of arsenic can be fatal.
Where does exposure to antimony most often occur?
Exposure to antimony dust occurs
during the mining, crushing and processing of the ore
; however the highest exposures to both antimony dust and fumes are likely to occur in smelting and refining processes. Antimony is most commonly used as antimony trioxide in the manufacture of flame-retardant materials.
