Workers may be harmed from exposure to antimony and its compounds. Antimony can have beneficial effects when used for medical reasons. If arsenic poisoning occurs over a brief period of time, symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, encephalopathy, and watery diarrhea that contains blood. It has been established that inorganic arsenic is extremely toxic both acute and chronic. In this review, we outline the effects of arsenic on the human body with a main focus on assorted organ systems with respective disease conditions. [6], And while the EPA and EU both have water standards for antimony they claim are well below toxic levels, those in the UK may want to be careful drinking juice concentrates. Beyond this, antimony is used to produce glass and ceramics, to make pigments, and in batteries. †Results may vary. Some studies have shown up to 100 times the amount of antimony in bottled water than in clean groundwater. Uranium in the environment refers to the science of the sources, environmental behaviour, and effects of uranium on humans and other animals. Antimony trioxide has been detected in the lungs, blood and urine of workers in occupational settings where antimony is processed, and biomonitoring data indicate that antimony compounds are retained postinhalation exposure.4 Acute occupational exposure can lead to skin, eye and lung irritation, as well as headaches, nausea and vomiting.5 Prolonged occupational exposure has been associated with various chronic health effects. Currently, no Canadian regulations exist for antimony in food although there is a Canadian drinking water quality guideline for antimony of 0.006 parts per million (ppm). Some people work in industries or locations where toxic antimony compounds are more prevalent and this puts them in greater danger of suffering from related health concerns. When antimony enters the bloodstream it first accumulates in the liver, from where it transfers to other parts of the body. [6], Over the last few decades, workplaces have instituted guidelines that have reduced the incidence of antimony poisoning, and therapeutic drugs with antimony undergo strict quality control measures. Antimony can bond to sulfhydryl (-SH) sites on enzymes and interfere with cellular metabolism. Side Effects & Safety When taken by mouth: Arsenic is LIKELY SAFE when eaten in normal food amounts. China is the biggest maker of antimony; it makes 84% of all antimony. Previously, antimony was used as medicine for parasitic infections, but its use was discontinued after health groups noted people being mostly allergic to the metal. [2]. 1986), antimony trioxide or metallic antimony (McCallum 1967, McCallum et al. Because antimony is widely used and present in so many everyday items, the health concerns caused by exposure to toxic antimony compounds are a real threat. In short-term studies, animals that breathed very high levels of antimony died. Deaths from drinking bronzing fluid have been reported but this has never been a suitable agent for perpetrating a murder because the liquid is corrosive and it would be impossible to administer without the intended victim being aware of it. Do you work in an environment where antimony is present? California even passed a law in 2009 requiring testing, despite the fact that the levels in bottled water are actually below those of tap water. Antimony is mainly excreted from the human body via urine. Exposure to ozone can also increase the susceptibility of the lungs to infections, allergens, and other air pollutants. Antimony is alloyed with lead to increase lead's durability. lead pipes), high ambient air concentrations near emission sources, … 4 Acute intoxication is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, muscular pain, shock, haemoglobinuria, anuria and uraemia. Edwaed Weil. Uranium is weakly radioactive and remains so because of its long physical half-life. In this work, antimony was given as antimony trioxide in a daily dose of 500 mg/ kg body weight which represented 1/40 of the known LD50. Such poisoning resembles arsenic poisoning. Ingesting large doses of antimony can also cause vomiting. The element and its compounds are toxic and should be handled carefully. Hansen C, Tsirigotaki A, Bak SA, Pergantis SA, Stürup S, Gammelgaard B, Hansen HR. It is the most toxic form of antimony and causes headaches, nausea, and vomiting, and it can block the anticholinesterase enzymes which ensure the heart beats properly. Print. 1970, Gerhardsson et al. Because antimony is used in brake pad systems for heavy weight vehicles, and port workers are exposed to that kind of traffic on a daily basis. Some side effects have been reported, including heart problems, nausea and vomiting, and muscle and joint pain. 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