| precautionary statement codes | P203, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301+P316, P301+P317, P304+P340, P317, P318, P319, P321, P330, P391, P405, and P501 |
| hazard statements | H301 (16.3%): Toxic if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]H302 (24%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]H332 (27.5%): Harmful if inhaled [Warning Acute toxicity, inhalation]H351 (30.1%): Suspected of causing cancer [Warning Carcinogenicity]H373 (18.5%): May causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]H411 (39.6%): Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard] |
| hazards summary | Antimony is a silvery-white metal that is found in the earth's crust. Antimony ores are mined and then mixed with other metals to form antimony alloys or combined with oxygen to form antimony oxide. Little antimony is currently mined in the United States. It is brought into this country from other countries for processing. However, there are companies in the United States that produce antimony as a by-product of smelting lead and other metals. 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. It is also used in paints, ceramics, and fireworks, and as enamels for plastics, metal, and glass.Everyone is exposed to low levels of antimony in the environment. 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. Human studies are inconclusive regarding antimony exposure and cancer, while animal studies have reported lung tumors in rats exposed to antimony trioxide via inhalation. EPA has not classified antimony for carcinogenicity.Pneumoconiosis and pustular dermatitis have been associated with chronic exposure to antimony dust. Miners and millers of antimony ores may develop silicosis and mixed-dust pneumoconiosis. Workers in smelters exposed to antimony oxide may develop a simple pneumoconiosis. A study published in 1954 of abrasive workers exposed to Sb2S3 at levels usually exceeding 3 mg/m3 found that 6 of 125 workers died of sudden cardiac deaths, and EKG changes, mostly of T waves, were found in 37 of 75 workers examined. Antimony trioxide caused allergic contact dermatitis in two ceramics workers. Antimony is a hepatotoxic agent. There is evidence from pharmacologic use that antimony is nephrotoxic. Substances that have been shown to induce genetic damage in germ cells of humans or animals, or which produce mutagenic effects in somatic cells and have been shown to reach the germ cells in their active forms. Urine testing is the most reliable method of assessing the level of antimony in the body. Hair testing is not reliable. See Stibine. See Antimony trioxide production. |