Editing Antimony (section)

== Precautions ==
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Antimony and many of its compounds are [[toxic]], and the effects of antimony poisoning are similar to [[arsenic poisoning]]. The toxicity of antimony is far lower than that of arsenic; this might be caused by the significant differences of uptake, metabolism and excretion between arsenic and antimony. The uptake of antimony(III) or antimony(V) in the gastrointestinal tract is at most 20%. Antimony(V) is not quantitatively reduced to antimony(III) in the cell (in fact antimony(III) is oxidised to antimony(V) instead<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Foster|first1=S.|last2=Maher|first2=W.|last3=Krikowa|first3=F.|last4=Telford|first4=K.|last5=Ellwood|first5=M.|title=Observations on the measurement of total antimony and antimony species in algae, plant and animal tissues|doi=10.1039/b509202g|journal=Journal of Environmental Monitoring|volume=7|issue=12|pages=1214–1219|year=2005|pmid=16307074}}</ref>).

Since [[methylation]] of antimony does not occur, the excretion of antimony(V) in urine is the main way of elimination.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/S0009-2797(97)00087-2|title=Arsenic and antimony: Comparative approach on mechanistic toxicology|year=1997|last1=Gebel|first1=T|journal=Chemico-Biological Interactions|volume=107|issue=3|pages=131–44|pmid=9448748|bibcode=1997CBI...107..131G }}</ref> Like arsenic, the most serious effect of acute antimony poisoning is [[cardiotoxicity]] and the resulting [[myocarditis]]; however, it can also manifest as [[Adams–Stokes syndrome]], which arsenic does not. Reported cases of intoxication by antimony equivalent to 90&nbsp;mg [[antimony potassium tartrate]] dissolved from enamel has been reported to show only short term effects. An intoxication with 6&nbsp;g of antimony potassium tartrate was reported to result in death after three days.<ref>{{cite journal|pmc=1543508|title=President's address. Observations upon antimony|year=1977|volume=70|issue=11|pmid=341167|last1=McCallum|first1=RI|pages=756–63|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine|doi=10.1177/003591577707001103 }}</ref>

Inhalation of antimony dust is harmful and in certain cases may be fatal; in small doses, antimony causes headaches, [[dizziness]], and depression. Larger doses such as prolonged skin contact may cause dermatitis, or damage the kidneys and the liver, causing violent and frequent vomiting, leading to death in a few days.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sundar|first1=S.|last2=Chakravarty|first2=J.|doi=10.3390/ijerph7124267|title=Antimony Toxicity|journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|volume=7|issue=12|pages=4267–4277|year=2010|pmid=21318007|pmc=3037053|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Antimony is incompatible with strong [[oxidizing agent]]s, [[strong acid]]s, [[hydrohalic acid|halogen acids]], [[chlorine]], or [[fluorine]]. It should be kept away from heat.<ref>[http://www.mallbaker.com/americas/msds/english/a7152_msds_us_default.pdf Antimony MSDS]{{dead link|date=March 2013}}. Baker</ref>

Antimony [[leaching (chemical science)|leaches]] from [[polyethylene terephthalate]] (PET) bottles into liquids.<ref>{{cite journal|pmid=17707454 |title=Antimony leaching from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic used for bottled drinking water|year=2008|last1=Westerhoff|first1=P|last2=Prapaipong|first2=P|last3=Shock|first3=E|last4=Hillaireau|first4=A|volume=42|issue=3|pages=551–6|doi=10.1016/j.watres.2007.07.048|journal=Water Research|bibcode=2008WatRe..42..551W }}</ref> While levels observed for [[bottled water]] are below [[drinking water]] guidelines,<ref name=shotyk/> [[fruit juice]] concentrates (for which no guidelines are established) produced in the UK were found to contain up to 44.7&nbsp;μg/L of antimony, well above the EU limits for [[tap water]] of 5&nbsp;μg/L.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Elevated antimony concentrations in commercial juices|first7=Helle Rüsz|last7=Hansen|first6=Bente|last6=Gammelgaard|first5=Stefan|last5=Stürup|first4=Spiros A.|last4=Pergantis|first3=Søren Alex|last3=Bak|first2=Alexandra|last1=Hansen|last2=Tsirigotaki|journal=Journal of Environmental Monitoring|first1=Claus|volume=12|issue=4|pages=822–4|date=2010|pmid=20383361|doi=10.1039/b926551a}}</ref> The guidelines are:
* [[World Health Organization]]: 20&nbsp;μg/L<ref name=who/>
* Japan: 15&nbsp;μg/L<ref>Wakayama, Hiroshi (2003) [http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/siryou/tnn/tnn0264pdf/ks0264011.pdf "Revision of Drinking Water Standards in Japan"], Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (Japan); Table 2, p. 84</ref>
* [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]], [[Health Canada]] and the [[Ontario Ministry of Environment]]: 6&nbsp;μg/L<ref name=canada>[https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/evaluating-existing-substances/screening-assessment-antimony-containing-substances.html#toc13 Screening assessment antimony-containing substances]. Health Canada. July 2020. {{ISBN|978-0-660-32826-3}}</ref>
* EU and German Federal Ministry of Environment: 5&nbsp;μg/L<ref name="shotyk">{{cite journal |last1=Shotyk |first1=William |last2=Krachler |first2=Michael |last3=Chen |first3=Bin |title=Contamination of Canadian and European bottled waters with antimony from PET containers |journal=Journal of Environmental Monitoring |date=2006 |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=288–292 |doi=10.1039/b517844b |pmid=16470261 }}</ref>

The [[tolerable daily intake]] (TDI) proposed by WHO is 6&nbsp;μg antimony per kilogram of body weight.<ref name=who>{{cite book|title=Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality|date=2011|publisher=World Health Organization|isbn=978-92-4-154815-1|edition=4th |hdl=10665/44584 |hdl-access=free |page=314}}</ref> The [[immediately dangerous to life or health]] (IDLH) value for antimony is 50&nbsp;mg/m<sup>3</sup>.<ref>{{PGCH|0036}}</ref>

=== Toxicity ===

Certain compounds of antimony appear to be toxic, particularly antimony trioxide and antimony potassium tartrate.<ref name="atsdr.cdc.gov">{{cite web |url=https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp23.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp23.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Toxicological Profile for Antimony and Compounds |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> Effects may be similar to [[arsenic poisoning]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/antimony-poisoning|title=Antimony poisoning|website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref> Occupational exposure may cause respiratory irritation, [[pneumoconiosis]], antimony spots on the skin, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, antimony trioxide is potentially carcinogenic to humans.<ref>{{Cite journal|pmc = 3037053|year = 2010|last1 = Sundar|first1 = S|title = Antimony Toxicity|journal = International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|volume = 7|issue = 12|pages = 4267–4277|last2 = Chakravarty|first2 = J|pmid = 21318007|doi = 10.3390/ijerph7124267|doi-access = free}}</ref>

Adverse health effects have been observed in humans and animals following inhalation, oral, or dermal exposure to antimony and antimony compounds.<ref name="atsdr.cdc.gov" /> Antimony toxicity typically occurs either due to occupational exposure, during therapy or from accidental ingestion. It is unclear if antimony can enter the body through the skin.<ref name="atsdr.cdc.gov" /> The presence of low levels of antimony in saliva may also be associated with [[dental decay]].<ref name="Davis_et_al_Sci_Rep">{{cite journal |last1=Davis |first1=E. |last2=Bakulski |first2=K. M. |last3=Goodrich |first3=J. M. |title=Low levels of salivary metals, oral microbiome composition and dental decay |journal=Scientific Reports |date=2020 |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=14640 |doi=10.1038/s41598-020-71495-9|pmid=32887894 |pmc=7474081 |bibcode=2020NatSR..1014640D |doi-access=free }}</ref>