Risk of Cancer for Workers Exposed to Antimony Compounds: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Antimony (Sb) trioxide and antimony trisulfide are “2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans” and “3: Unclassifiable” according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that antimony trioxide “is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on studies in rats and mice”. We investigated the cancer hazard of antimony compounds for workers, a population with high exposure to antimony substances. Methods: Using the “Guidelines for performing systematic reviews in the development of toxicity factors” (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) 2017) as a guidance, we established a human and an animal toxicology data stream in Medline and ToxLine. Data from this review were applied in a human health risk assessment. Results: A final pool of 10 occupational and 13 animal toxicology articles resulted after application of TCEQ guidelines. Conclusions: Antimony carcinogenicity evidence involving workers is inadequate, based on confounding, small sample sizes, incomparability across studies, and inadequate reference populations. An increased lung cancer risk cannot be excluded. Evidence for lung neoplasms caused by antimony trioxide inhalation in experimental animals is sufficient. Overall, carcinogenicity in workers is probable (International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2A). It remains unclear from what occupational exposure duration and dose this effect arises and whether exposure threshold values should be reconsidered.

Distribution, source, water quality and health risk assessment of dissolved heavy metals in major rivers in Wuhan, China

“…The side effects of heavy metals have been widely reported, such as V has a toxic impact on the human digestive system, blood, nervous system and immune system (Chlubek et al, 2012;Rawal et al, 1997). Sb may cause discomforts such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain and gastric ulcer (Saerens et al, 2019;Sundar & Chakravarty, 2010). Moreover, excessive As intake may cause cancers (liver cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer) and other side effects (hypertension, neuropathy, diabetes, tibial disease) (Wu et al, 2009b;Xu & Wang, 2020).…”

A Systematic Review of the Antimony Content of the Normal Human Prostate Gland

“…As mentioned above, an ingestion of Sb by humans can cause a variety of disorders, such as irritation of the eyes, severe vomiting, diarrhea, skin lesions, lung diseases, heart problems, stomach ulcers [67,70] and different types of cancers, including PCa [31][32][33][34]. In spite of a significant correlations between Sb exposure and the risk of PCa have been There are some limitations in our study, which need to be taken into consideration when interpreting the results of this review.…”

“…Furthermore, experimental and epidemiological data identified that Sb compounds should be considered as genotoxic carcinogens [30][31][32][33][34]. Consequently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has evaluated Sb as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) [35].…”

“…Recorded observations range from a deficiency state, through normal function as biologically essential components, to an imbalance, when excess of one element interferes with the function of another, to pharmacologically active concentrations, and finally to toxic and even life-threatening concentrations [36][37][38]. In this context, for example, low dose of Sb has some useful effects on health, but significant exposure to this metalloid may result in adverse health effects in different organs or tissues, including malignancy such as Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and melanoma, cancer of the lung, colon, rectum, bladder, thyroid, pleura, testis and PCa [31][32][33][34].…”

“…Pg. no.-24 reported[31][32][33][34], precise molecular mechanisms by which this metalloid causes healthy cells to transform to malignant states have yet to be fully defined. Possibly, production of active oxygen species and/or DNA repair inhibition are mechanisms involved[30].…”