Abstract

This report describes the applications and emissions of antimony and its compounds. Antimony is on the list of substances requiring special attention, because of their possible or known risks for mankind or environment. This list is part of the Netherlands Chemical Substances Act (CSA) and is reviewed regularly. As a result of CSA research has been done by setting up an inquiry for especially suppliers of antimony and its compounds. The results of an inquiry and of additional literature-research show that the most important application of antimony in the Netherlands is as a flame-retardant (656 tons a year according to the inquiry)and in pigments (172 tons a year according to the inquiry). Antimony is also present in alloys of especially lead but also tin and iron. The most important emissions of antimony are caused by the pigment-industry (a few tons a year to bottom, water and air), the production of Flu-powder for lamps (a few tons a year to the air) and by sportfishing (via lead: a few tons a year). The investigation shows a lot of gaps in the knowledge of the distribution and appearance of antimony and its compounds. The consequences for mankind and environment of antimony and its compounds also are not clear. A few research-results indicate reasonable doubt about antimony being mutagenic and carcinogenic.