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Heavy Metal Index

Subchronic and Chronic Inhalation Toxicity of Antimony Trioxide in the Rat

Fischer 344 rats inhaled antimony trioxide dust in a 13-week study and in a 12-month study, each followed by an observation period.

Fischer 344 rats inhaled antimony trioxide dust in a 13-week study and in a 12-month study, each followed by an observation period. The abstract reports measured exposure levels of 0, 0.25, 1.08, 4.92, and 23.46 mg/m3 in the shorter study and 0, 0.06, 0.51, and 4.50 mg/m3 in the longer study. The methods also state target levels that are not the same numbers. Under these exposures the authors report no carcinogenic response.

Key numbers

Figures below are copied as printed. Units are not converted. Species are not merged.

AnalyteWhat was reportedValueUnitBasisWhere
Sbexposure levels of 0, 0.25, 1.08, 4.92, and 23.46 mg/m30, 0.25, 1.08, 4.92, and 23.46mg/m3inhalation exposure concentrationAbstract, p. 1
Sbexposure levels of 0, 0.06, 0.51, and 4.50 mg/m30, 0.06, 0.51, and 4.50mg/m3inhalation exposure concentrationAbstract, p. 1
Sbtarget exposure levels were 0, 0.25, 1, 5, and 25 mg/m30, 0.25, 1, 5, and 25mg/m3target inhalation concentrationMethods, p. 2
Sbtarget exposure levels were 0, 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/m30, 0.05, 0.5, and 5mg/m3target inhalation concentrationMethods, p. 2
Sbmass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 3.05 ± 0.21 microns (mean ± SD)3.05 ± 0.21micrometres MMADaerosol sizeAbstract, p. 1
Sbpurity of the nine lots was 99.68 ± 0.10% (mean ± SD)99.68 ± 0.10percentpurityMethods, p. 2
SbClearance of Sb2O3 from the lung was burden dependent and was reduced by 80% in the 4.50 mg/m3 group80percent reductionclearance relative to a lower burdenAbstract, p. 1

Methods (brief)

Whole-body inhalation, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. The subchronic arm ran 13 weeks plus 27 weeks of observation, with 50 rats per sex per group. The chronic arm ran 12 months of exposure plus 12 months of observation, with 65 rats per sex per group. The test dust was an unmilled blend of nine commercial lots. Mass median aerodynamic diameter in the subchronic study was 3.05 ± 0.21 micrometres. Purity was 99.68 ± 0.10 percent.

Evidence fitness

These data support Measured and target antimony trioxide inhalation concentrations in two rat studies; A reported absence of treatment-related neoplasms at these lung burdens.

They do not support Antimony in food, drinking water, or a packaged product; A transcription of lung or urine antimony tables; A certification limit.

Limitations

The PDF is a scan. Exposure concentrations in the abstract were read from OCR and checked against the first page image. Tissue antimony tables were not transcribed from the figures. These are inhalation doses in rats, not antimony in food, water, or a consumer product. Target concentrations in the methods differ from the measured concentrations in the abstract.

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