Environmental Testing Laboratory

Huntington Beach, CA, October 9^th, 2018

Antimony is a silvery-white metal that is found in the earth's crust. Antimony ores are mixed with other metals to form antimony alloys or combined with oxygen to form antimony oxide. Mixed into alloys, it is used in such products as lead storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe metal, bearings, castings and pewter. There are also companies that produce antimony as a by-product of smelting lead and other metals. Antimony oxide is added to textiles and plastics to prevent them from catching fire. It is also used in paints, ceramics and fireworks, and as enamels for plastics, metal and glass.

Back in 1990, the state of California designated antimony oxide as known to cause cancer under Proposition 65. Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires businesses to notify Californians about significant amounts of chemicals in the products they purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment. 

“According to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), exposure to antimony at high levels can result in a variety of adverse health effects,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “It can enter the body when people drink water or eat food, soil or other substances that contain it, or if people breathe contaminated air or dusts.”

California workers in industries that process or utilize antimony or antimony oxide are potentially at risk of exposure to levels that could be of concern. To help protect employees, the public, and to keep companies in regulatory compliance, LA Testing offers analytical services for antimony and other potential occupational and environmental exposure hazards. The laboratory specialists have even sponsored an educational video about antimony exposures that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/rkFP_yYs2p0.

To learn more about this or other occupational, environmental, air quality, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.