Antimony, often mistaken for lead, was thought to be a common ingredient in Khol eyeliner back in the time of Egypt’s prime. It’s still used in some traditional eyeliner in the Middle East today and has even made its way into modern cosmetics as well. Antimony is a shiny, silvery element with 5 valence electrons and the ability to increase the strength of lead creating a much more durable alloy. It’s insoluble in water, stable in air and it is not ductile or malleable in its pure form. It’s alloys have a wide range of uses, however, from castings and metal bearings to plastics, textiles and even paper.
Though useful, Antimony is also quite toxic. The most dangerous exposure is to those that work with it in the industrial field. If it’s inhaled it can cause respiratory issues like chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pleural adhesions and more. It’s also noted to increase blood pressure and cause gastrointestinal disorders. Studies suggest that it could also cause liver and kidney damage. It is additionally a known carcinogen! Though the FDA and CDC have dragged their feet on this classification for years, many states have gone ahead and listed it among their known carcinogens as we know it has a strong tie to lung cancer and other types of cancer related to the respiratory system.
A big environmental issue currently on the rise is the natural resource contamination due to the mining of antimony. The development of better methods for it’s isolation and removal are being highlighted as mining releases antimony into the soil where it eventually leaches into the groundwater. Currently, we’ve seen the impact of antimony when it’s inhaled regularly in it’s industrial use but imagine what harm it could do if consumed unknowingly by the greater population. This risk is one that researchers are currently trying to assess while developing safer ways to use this material.
As a consumer, it’s important to know if the products you are buying contain Antimony. It’s been known to show up in clothing, school supplies for kids and even baby prams. As we have learned before, toxic chemicals are often most detrimental to the very young so being away of the materials you pick up and expose you family too is more important now than ever.
Resources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653521007219
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653521007219
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/antimony-compounds.pdf