Essay On Antimony

1.4 EFFECTS OF METALS IN HUMAN

1.4.1 Antimony

Overexposure to antimony (Sb) and its compounds can adversely affect the skin, lungs, cardiovascular system and liver. The more significant antimony compound is sulphides and, to a lesser extent, oxides of Sb(III), and combinations with lead, copper, and silver (5). Because antimony is found naturally in the environment, the general population is exposed to low levels, primarily in food, drinking water, and air (most individuals consume about 5 micrograms of antimony per day).

1.4.2 Arsenic

Arsenic exerts adverse effects on the skin; arsenic has a pronounced affinity for skin and keratinizing structures including the hair and nails. Therefore, symptoms of acute overexposure include a variety of skin eruptions, alopecia and characteristic striation of the nails (6). Arsenic does not act as a sensitizer, due to poor skin penetrating ability of its naturally occurring compounds (6).

Short-term overexposure to nickel is not known to cause any health problems, but long-term exposure can cause decreased body weight, heart and liver damage, and skin irritation. The most common adverse health effect of nickel in humans is an allergic reaction. People can become sensitive to nickel when jewellery or other things containing nickel are in direct contact with the skin. Once a person is sensitized to nickel, further contact with the metal will produce a reaction. The most common reaction is a skin rash at the site of contact. In some sensitized people dermatitis may develop at a site away from the site of contact. The most serious effects of nickel, such as cancer of the lung and nasal sinus, have occurred in people who have breathed nickel dust while working in nickel refineries or in nickel processing plants. Other lung effects include chronic bronchitis and reduced lung function. (16,