Two oral studies reported no change in the incidence of cancer in rats fed antimony for a lifetime. However, the usefulness of these studies is limited because only one dose was used. EPA has not classified antimony for carcinogenicity. Antimony is a silvery-white metal that is found in the earth's crust. Antimony ores are mined and then either changed to antimony metal or combined with oxygen to form antimony oxide.
Antimony oxide is a white powder that is insoluble in water.
Antimony metal is a very brittle, moderately hard metal. Other uses of antimony alloys are for solder, sheet and pipe, bearing metals, castings, and type metal. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.