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Assays / Trace
Metals/ Antimony
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
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