Antimoniosis: a particular form of pneumoconiosis. I. Etiology, clinical and X-ray findings.

The occupational exposure, clinical findings, lung function and radiological characteristics of 51 workers in an antimony smelting plant are presented. The workers were exposed to the airbone dust containing a high concentration of antimony trioxide (up to 88%) and antimony pentoxide. A particular X-ray picture was characterized by numerous small opacities densely distributed in the middle and lower lung fields, opacities of p, pinhead type. Sporadically pq type was seen, but never r type nor massive fibrosis (pmf). The pneumoconiotic changes developed after at least one decade of work. Nothing particular in clinical findings and lung function could be distinguished from other types of simple pneumoconioses. This pneumoconiosis is called--antimoniosis. No systemic manifestation of antimony oxide intoxication was found, with the exception of skin changes, "antimony dermatosis".