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Heavy Metal Index

An assessment of the genetic toxicology of antimony trioxide

Elliott, Mackay, Clay, and Ashby tested antimony trioxide (Sb2O3, CAS 1309-64-4, purity 99.9 percent) in standard genotoxicity assays.

Elliott, Mackay, Clay, and Ashby tested antimony trioxide (Sb2O3, CAS 1309-64-4, purity 99.9 percent) in standard genotoxicity assays. The introduction places the substance as a catalyst in polyethylene terephthalate. This paper does not measure antimony leaving a textile or a package.

Key numbers

The abstract states the in vivo doses the authors used. The mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay was negative after oral gavage up to 5000 mg/kg as a single dose, or up to 1000 mg/kg repeated for 1, 7, 14, or 21 days. The rat liver unscheduled DNA synthesis assay was negative after a single oral dose up to 5000 mg/kg. The Salmonella microsome assay and the L5178Y mutation assay were negative. The in vitro cytogenetic assay in human peripheral lymphocytes was positive. Those doses are administered doses. They are not concentrations in food, sweat, or fiber.

Individual cytogenetic cell counts are in the paper and are not transcribed here. The evidence register keeps the two in vivo limit doses from the abstract.

Methods (brief)

Ames, mouse lymphoma, in vitro human lymphocyte cytogenetics, mouse bone marrow micronucleus, and rat liver DNA repair. Oral doses were by gavage.

Evidence fitness

The abstract supports a statement about these assays and these doses. It does not support a migration fraction from polyester, and a positive in vitro cytogenetic result is not an occurrence result.

Limitations

The paper is a toxicology study of the substance. Polyester is context for why the substance is used. No article, food, or sweat was analysed.

Update history

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