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Antimony
CASRN 7440-36-0
Contents
0006
Antimony; CASRN 7440-36-0
Health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in IRIS only
after a comprehensive review of chronic toxicity data by U.S. EPA health
scientists from several Program Offices and the Office of Research and
Development. The summaries presented in Sections I and II represent a
consensus reached in the review process. Background information and
explanations of the methods used to derive the values given in IRIS are
provided in the Background Documents.
STATUS OF DATA FOR Antimony
File On-Line 01/31/1987
Category (section) Status Last Revised
----------------------------------------- -------- ------------
Oral RfD Assessment (I.A.) on-line 02/01/1991
Inhalation RfC Assessment (I.B.) no data
Carcinogenicity Assessment (II.) no data
_I. CHRONIC HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENTS FOR NONCARCINOGENIC EFFECTS
__I.A. REFERENCE DOSE FOR CHRONIC ORAL EXPOSURE (RfD)
Substance Name -- Antimony
CASRN -- 7440-36-0
Last Revised -- 02/01/1991
The oral Reference Dose (RfD) is based on the assumption that thresholds exist
for certain toxic effects such as cellular necrosis. It is expressed in units
of mg/kg-day. In general, the RfD is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning
perhaps an order of magnitude) of a daily exposure to the human population
(including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable
risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime. Please refer to the Background
Document for an elaboration of these concepts. RfDs can also be derived for
the noncarcinogenic health effects of substances that are also carcinogens.
Therefore, it is essential to refer to other sources of information concerning
the carcinogenicity of this substance. If the U.S. EPA has evaluated this
substance for potential human carcinogenicity, a summary of that evaluation
will be contained in Section II of this file.
___I.A.1. ORAL RfD SUMMARY
Critical Effect Experimental Doses* UF MF RfD
-------------------- ----------------------- ----- --- ---------
Longevity, blood NOEL: none 1000 1 4E-4
glucose, and cho- mg/kg/day
lesterol LOAEL: 0.35 mg/kg bw/day
Rat Chronic Oral
Bioassay
Schroeder et al., 1970
*Conversion Factors: 5 mg/L (5 ppm) given as 0.350 mg/kg/day in the
discussion section of the critical study
___I.A.2. PRINCIPAL AND SUPPORTING STUDIES (ORAL RfD)
Schroeder, H.A., M. Mitchner and A.P. Nasor. 1970. Zirconium, niobium,
antimony, vanadium and lead in rats: Life term studies. J. Nutrition. 100:
59-66.
An experimental group of 50 male and 50 female rats was administered 5 ppm
potassium antimony tartrate in water. Over the period of study, growth rates
of treated animals were not affected, but male rats survived 106 and females
107 fewer days than did controls at median lifespans. Nonfasting blood
glucose levels were decreased in treated males, and cholesterol levels were
altered in both sexes. Since there was only one level of antimony
administered, a NOEL was not established in this study. A decrease in mean
heart weight for the males was noted. No increase in tumors was seen as a
result of treatment. Although not precisely stated, the concentration of 5
ppm antimony was expressed as an exposure of 0.35 mg/kg/day by the authors.
___I.A.3. UNCERTAINTY AND MODIFYING FACTORS (ORAL RfD)
UF -- An uncertainty factor of 1000 (10 for interspecies conversion, 10 to
protect sensitive individuals, and 10 because the effect level was a LOAEL and
no NOEL was established) was applied to the LOAEL of 0.35 mg/kg bw/day.
MF -- None
___I.A.4. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (ORAL RfD)
In a similar study (Kanisawa and Schroeder, 1969), groups of CD-1 mice
(54/sex) were given potassium antimony tartrate in drinking water at 0 or 5
mg/L (5 ppm) for 540 days (18 months). Lifespans were significantly reduced
in both males and females, but the degree of antimony toxicity was less severe
in mice than rats. Bradley and Fredrick (1941) and Browning (1969) reported
disturbances in glucose and cholesterol metabolism in rats ingesting 5 mg/L
antimony, but no signs of injury to the heart were observed in rats receiving
doses up to 100 mg/kg/day. Substantially higher doses of antimony trioxide
were tolerated by rats in studies by Sunagawa (1981) and Gross et al.
(1955a,b), suggesting a NOAEL of 500 mg/kg, but these studies are of
inadequate duration to assess adverse effects on toxicity.
Seventy people became acutely ill after drinking lemonade containing 0.013%
antimony (Dunn, 1928 and Monier-Williams, 1934). The lemonade had been
prepared and left overnight in buckets coated with an enamel containing 2.88%
antimony trioxide. Fifty-six people were taken to the hospital with burning
stomach pains, colic, nausea and vomiting. Most recovered within 3 hours, but
in some cases recovery was not complete for several days. It is estimated
that a person consuming 300 mL of lemonade would have received a dose of
approximately 36 mg antimony, or approximately 0.5 mg/kg for a 70-kg adult.
According to U.S. EPA (1980), multimedia antimony exposures are essentially
negligible by comparison to occupational exposures at which discrete clinical
health effects have been observed. Myocardial effects are among the best-
characterized human health effects associated with antimony exposure. Studies
by Brieger et al. (1954) suggest an inhalation NOEL for myocardial damage to
be approximately 0.5 mg/cu.m. This exposure is approximately equivalent to an
oral reference dose of 0.003 mg/kg bw/day (i.e., 0.5 mg/cu.m x 10 cu.m/day x
0.5 / 1.0 x 5 days/7 days / 70 kg / 10). Parallel studies in rats and rabbits
resulted in observation of EKG alterations following exposure to 3.1-5.6
mg/cu.m. There are, however, no adequate data on oral exposure to antimony
which permit reasonable estimate of no effect levels regarding heart damage.
One study (Belyaeva, 1967) indicated that women workers exposed in an antimony
plant experienced a greater incidence of spontaneous abortions than did a
control group of nonexposed working women. A high rate of premature
deliveries among women workers in antimony smelting and processing was also
observed (Aiello, 1955).
___I.A.5. CONFIDENCE IN THE ORAL RfD
Study -- Low
Data Base -- Low
RfD -- Low
Confidence in the chosen study is rated as low because only one species was
used, only one dose level was used, no NOEL was determined, and gross
pathology and histopathology were not well described. Confidence in the data
base is low due to lack of adequate oral exposure investigations. Low
confidence in the RfD follows.
___I.A.6. EPA DOCUMENTATION AND REVIEW OF THE ORAL RfD
U.S. EPA. 1980. Ambient Water Quality Criteria Document for Antimony.
Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental
Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH for the Office of Water
Regulations and Standards, Washington, DC. EPA-440/5-80-020. NTIS PB 81-
117319.
The ADI in the 1980 Ambient Water Quality Criteria Document was extensively
reviewed by the Agency and was reviewed by the public.
U.S. EPA. 1985. Health and Environmental Effects Profile for Antimony
Oxides. Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment,
Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH for the Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, DC.
Limited peer review and extensive Agency-wide review, 1985.
Agency Work Group Review -- 11/06/1985
Verification Date -- 11/06/1985
___I.A.7. EPA CONTACTS (ORAL RfD)
Please contact the Risk Information Hotline for all questions concerning this
assessment or IRIS, in general, at (513)569-7254 (phone), (513)569-7159 (FAX)
or RIH.IRIS@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (internet address).
__I.B. REFERENCE CONCENTRATION FOR CHRONIC INHALATION EXPOSURE (RfC)
Substance Name -- Antimony
CASRN -- 7440-36-0
Not available at this time.
_II. CARCINOGENICITY ASSESSMENT FOR LIFETIME EXPOSURE
Substance Name -- Antimony
CASRN -- 7440-36-0
This substance/agent has not undergone a complete evaluation and determination
under US EPA's IRIS program for evidence of human carcinogenic potential.
_VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Substance Name -- Antimony
CASRN -- 7440-36-0
Last Revised -- 02/01/1991
__VI.A. ORAL RfD REFERENCES
Aiello, G. 1955. Pathology of antimony. Folia Med. (Naples). 38: 100.
(Ital.)
Belyaeva, A.P. 1967. The effect of antimony on reproduction. Gig. Truda
Prof. Zabol. 11: 32.
Bradley, W.R. and W.G. Frederick. 1941. The toxicity of antimony--animal
studies. Ind. Med. 10 Ind. Hyg. Sec. 2: 15-22.
Brieger, H., C.W. Semisch, III, J. Stasney and D.A. Platnek. 1954.
Industrial antimony poisoning. Ind. Med. Surg. 23: 521.
Browning, E. 1969. Antimony. In: Toxicity of Industrial Metals, 2nd ed.
Appleton-Century-Craft, New York. p. 23-38.
Dunn, J.T. 1928. A curious case of antimony poisoning. Analyst. 53:
532-533.
Gross, P., J.H.V. Brown, M.L. Westrick, R.P.Srsic, N.L. Butler and T.F. Hatch.
1955a. A toxicological study of calcium halophosphate phospher and antimony
trioxide. I. Acute and chronic toxicity and some pharmacological aspects.
Arch. Ind. Health. 11: 473-479.
Gross, P., M.L. Westrick, J.H.V. Brown, R.P. Srsic, H.H. Schrenk and T.F.
Hatch. 1955b. Toxicologic study of calcium halophosphate phosphors and
antimony trioxide. II. Pulmonary studies. Arch. Ind. Health. 11: 479-486.
Kanisawa, M. and H.A. Schroeder. 1969. Life term studies on the effect of
trace elements on spontaneous tumor in mice and rats. Cancer Res. 29:
892-895.
Monier-Williams, G.W. 1934. Antimony in enamelled hollow-ware. Report on
Public Health and Medical Subjects, No. 73, Ministry of Health, London.
p. 18. (Cited in U.S. EPA, 1985)
Schroeder, H.A., M. Mitchner and A.P. Nasor. 1970. Zirconium, niobium,
antimony, vanadium and lead in rats: Life term studies. J. Nutr. 100(1):
59-68.
Sunagawa, S. 1981. Experimental studies on antimony poisoning. Igaku
Kenkyu. 51(3): 129-142. (Jap.) (CA 096/080942D)
U.S. EPA. 1980. Ambient Water Quality Criteria Document for Antimony.
Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental
Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH for the Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Washington, DC. EPA 440/5-80-020.
U.S. EPA. 1985. Health and Environmental Effects Profile for Antimony
Oxides. Prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment,
Environmental Criteria and Assessment, Cincinnati, OH for the Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, DC.
__VI.B. INHALATION RfC REFERENCES
None
__VI.C. CARCINOGENICITY ASSESSMENT REFERENCES
None
_VII. REVISION HISTORY
Substance Name -- Antimony
CASRN -- 7440-36-0
-------- -------- --------------------------------------------------------
Date Section Description
-------- -------- --------------------------------------------------------
08/01/1989 I.A. Gross et al. (1955) citation clarified
08/01/1989 VI. Bibliography on-line
02/01/1991 I.A.1. Conversion factor revised
02/01/1991 I.A.2. Text added
02/01/1991 I.A.4. Paragraph 2 added
02/01/1991 VI.A. Dunn, 1928 and Monier-Williams, 1934 added
01/01/1992 I.A.7. Primary contact changed
01/01/1992 IV. Regulatory actions updated
VIII. SYNONYMS
Substance Name -- Antimony
CASRN -- 7440-36-0
Last Revised -- 01/31/1987
7440-36-0
Antimony
ANTIMONY BLACK
ANTIMONY POWDER
ANTIMONY, REGULUS
ANTYMON
C.I. 77050
STIBIUM
UN 2871
Last updated: 5 May 1998
URL: http://www.epa.gov/iris/SUBST/0006.HTM
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