What are the side effects of antimony?

Author: Dedrick Bogisich  |  Last update: Monday, March 9, 2026

contact may cause redness and itchy skin rash (dermatitis). causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. ► Exposure to Antimony can cause headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of sleep.

What does antimony do to your body?

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.

What foods are high in antimony?

Antimony has been reported to be present in food, including fruit, vegetables, meat, freshwater fish, meat and poultry, with higher level being detected in marine food4,6,8.

What is the issue with antimony?

Breathing air contaminated with antimony can cause eye and lung irritation, heart and lung damage, stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach ulcers. Ingestion of large doses of antimony may cause stomach pains and vomiting.

Where does exposure to antimony most often occur?

Antimony trioxide exposure is predominant in smelters. Mining and exposure via glass working, soldering, and brazing are also important.

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How to remove antimony from the body?

Chelation agents can help remove heavy metals like antimony from the body. This therapy should only be administered by qualified medical professionals.

What everyday items contain antimony?

Antimony is mixed into alloys and used in lead storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe metal, motor bearings, castings, semiconductors, and pewter. Antimony oxide is added to textiles, plastics, rubber, adhesives, pigments and paper to prevent them from catching fire.

Why did China ban antimony?

China banned shipments of gallium, germanium, antimony, and so-called superhard materials to the United States due to their “dual military and civilian uses.” The export of graphite will now also be subject to greater scrutiny.

Is antimony still used today?

A lead-antimony alloy is used in batteries. Other uses of antimony alloys include type metal (in printing presses), bullets and cable sheathing. Antimony compounds are used to make flame-retardant materials, paints, enamels, glass and pottery. Antimony and many of its compounds are toxic.

Is antimony cancerous?

Lung cancer was found in some studies of rats that breathed high levels of antimony trioxide. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) considers antimony trioxide to be reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (causing cancer in people).

How to avoid antimony?

Minimize your exposure to dust, which may contain antimony trioxide. Wash your hands and your child's hands frequently, especially before preparing food, and before eating. Clean your floors regularly. If possible, use a wet mop or vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

Why do I have high levels of antimony?

levels of antimony from ingestion of food and drinking water and by inhalation of dust. Dermal exposure may also occur through skin contact with soil, water, or other substances containing antimony. exposed to antimony in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles.

What are antimony spots on the skin?

Airborne antimony has effects in skin described as “antimony spots” which are pustules and eruptions in the trunk and limbs near sweat and sebaceous glands. This dermatitis is more commonly seen in association with hot weather and in workers exposed to high temperatures [10,16,17].

How long does antimony stay in your system?

After antimony enters your blood, it goes to many parts of your body. Most of the antimony goes to the liver, lungs, intestines, and spleen. Antimony will leave your body in feces and urine over several weeks.

Do all air fryers have antimony?

In conclusion, there is no scientific basis for the claim that air fryer cords can contaminate food with antimony. The materials and design of air fryers are intended to prevent such contamination.

What medicines contain antimony?

Antimony(V)-containing compounds, such as sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam®; 36) and meglumine antimonite (Glucantime®; 37), as well as the antimony(III) compounds sodium antimony(III) gluconate (Triostam®; 38) and potassium antimony(III) tartrate (Tartar emetic®; 39), have been widely used for the treatment of ...

What is the old name for antimony?

What's in a name? From the Greek words anti and monos, which together mean "not alone." Antimony's chemical symbol comes from its historic name, Stibium.

What appliances have antimony in them?

Metal alloys used in various products, such as car batteries, pipe fittings, bullets, and metal solder for electronics and plumbing. Pewter items, such as plates, beer mugs, and jewelry. Fluorescent light bulb glass; optical glass used in eyeglasses, cameras, and microscopes; and glass screens in old televisions.

What is the military use of antimony?

Additionally, antimony is used in a variety of military applications, including night vision goggles, explosive formulations, flares, nuclear weapons production, and infrared sensors. Expanded uses for antimony contribute to its inclusion as a critical material, particularly with respect to battery technology.

Where does the US get its antimony?

But the vast majority is imported: Nearly two-thirds of the antimony consumed in the U.S. between 2019 and 2022 came from China, according to the geological survey. China's new export limits “will put a real squeeze on the U.S. and European militaries,” an analyst told Reuters in August.

Why did China want silver so bad?

China had a high demand for silver due to its shift from paper money to coins in the early period of the Ming dynasty. The Ming paper currency eventually failed due to self-imposed inflation along with an inability to stop the production of counterfeit bills.

Is antimony still used in medicine?

Today, neither metallic antimony nor its compounds have a medical use, although up to the 1970s, antimony compounds were used to treat parasitic infections like schistosomiasis. These preparations did kill the parasites, but sometimes they also dispatched the patient.

Is antimony in water bottles?

Most bottled water is sold in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Antimony is present in bottled waters because used as a catalyst in PET production. Antimony concentrations are usually below regulated values.

Is antimony in car batteries?

Antimony is added to strengthen and harden lead as well because of its influence on conductive properties. It reduces corrosion resistance of the positive grid and, in high content in the negative plate, leads to the formation of stibin which is toxic[8].

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