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Antimony: Effects, Toxicity and Medical Use

Antimony (Sb) is a naturally occurring metalloid used in industry and medicine, but toxic to humans at excessive exposure levels.

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Things worth knowing about "Antimony"

Antimony (Sb) is a naturally occurring metalloid used in industry and medicine, but toxic to humans at excessive exposure levels.

What is Antimony?

Antimony (chemical symbol: Sb, from Latin Stibium) is a naturally occurring metalloid with atomic number 51. It is found in nature mainly as the mineral stibnite (antimony(III) sulfide, Sb₂S₃). Antimony has been used by humans for thousands of years – in antiquity as a cosmetic and medicinal agent. Today, it is widely used in industry, particularly in flame retardants, alloys, and semiconductors.

Sources of Exposure

People may come into contact with antimony through various routes:

Occupational exposure: Mining, smelting, battery production, and flame retardant manufacturing
Environmental contamination: Antimony-containing soil particles and contaminated drinking water
Plastics and packaging: Antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst in PET plastic production; small amounts can migrate into beverages
Food: Antimony is found in trace amounts in certain foods

Biological Effects and Toxicity

Antimony is not essential for the human body. In small amounts it is generally well tolerated, but at higher doses it becomes toxic. Toxicity depends strongly on the chemical form:

Antimony(III) compounds (e.g., antimony trioxide) are considered possibly carcinogenic (IARC Group 2B)
Antimony(V) compounds are generally less toxic
Stibine gas (SbH₃) is highly toxic and can cause severe damage to red blood cells

Symptoms of Antimony Poisoning

Acute antimony poisoning may cause the following symptoms:

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Cardiac arrhythmias (cardiotoxicity)
Impaired liver and kidney function
Skin irritation and rash (from occupational contact)

Chronic exposure may lead to antimony pneumoconiosis (a lung disease caused by inhaled antimony dust), cardiac damage, and changes in blood counts.

Medical Applications

Certain antimony compounds have established medical uses, particularly in the treatment of tropical infectious diseases:

Sodium stibogluconate and meglumine antimoniate are pentavalent antimony preparations used as first-line treatments for leishmaniasis – a parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies.

These medications are administered under strict medical supervision due to serious potential side effects including cardiac arrhythmias, pancreatitis, and liver toxicity.

Diagnosis of Antimony Exposure

Detection of antimony exposure is carried out through:

Blood test: Measurement of antimony levels in whole blood
Urine analysis: Antimony is excreted primarily via the kidneys; elevated urinary levels indicate exposure
Hair analysis: Can be used to assess chronic exposure over time

Normal blood levels are generally below 1 µg/l. In occupationally exposed individuals, values may be significantly higher.

Regulatory Limits and Safety Recommendations

Various authorities have established limits for antimony exposure:

WHO guideline for drinking water: 20 µg/l
Occupational exposure limit (Germany): 0.1 mg/m³ (inhalable dust fraction)
EFSA assessment: The European Food Safety Authority has classified antimony as an environmentally relevant contaminant

Treatment of Antimony Poisoning

In cases of antimony poisoning, the following measures are prioritized:

Immediate removal from the source of exposure
Symptomatic treatment (e.g., electrolyte replacement for vomiting and diarrhea)
In severe cases: chelation therapy with appropriate chelating agents (e.g., DMSA)
Intensive care monitoring in cases of cardiac involvement

References

World Health Organization (WHO) – Antimony in Drinking-water. Background document for development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. WHO/SDE/WSH/03.04/74. Geneva, 2003.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 47. Lyon, 1989.
Sundar S, Chakravarty J – Antimony Toxicity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2010; 7(12): 4267-4277.

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