Mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and teratogenicity of antimony compounds

The paper reviews the information available concerning the mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects of antimony. A claim that antimony compounds could have mutagenic properties is based on insufficient and not particularly relevant data. Additional experiments, particularly with organic antimony compounds, would be desirable, but from what we know already, one may be confident that antimony is less a mutagenic risk than many other metals such as As, Cr, Ni, among others. Evidence for a carcinogenic risk of antimony in experimental animals was judged by the IARC sufficient for antimony trioxide and limited for antimony trisulfide. In man, IARC considered antimony trioxide as possibly carcinogenic. However, exposure in all studies on which these conclusions are based also involved other proven or likely carcinogenic compounds. Studies with pure antimony compounds, especially those used in therapy, need to be performed to clarify the situation. Although some indications exist that antimony trioxide could interfere with embryonic and fetal development, the studies seem not entirely conclusive. It is regrettable that, at least to our knowledge, the outcome of pregnancy in women treated with antimony compounds for leishmaniasis has not been studied. In conclusion, it appears that mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic risks of antimony compounds, if they exists at all, are not very important.