Antimony Water Test

Antimony in Drinking Water: A Heavy Metal Hiding in Plain Sight

Antimony is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in mineral deposits, rock formations, and soil throughout the environment. It has no color, taste, or odor in water, which means it can be present in your drinking supply at concerning levels without any detectable sign. The only way to know whether antimony is in your water is to test for it.

While antimony is not among the most commonly discussed drinking water contaminants, it is a regulated substance under the Safe Drinking Water Act for good reason. The EPA has set a maximum contaminant level of 6 parts per billion for antimony in public drinking water supplies. Private well owners are not subject to this regulation but the health implications are identical. In groundwater antimony most commonly enters the water supply through the natural leaching of mineral deposits in bedrock and soil, through industrial contamination from copper and lead smelting and refining operations, and through the breakdown and runoff of antimony compounds used in flame retardants, batteries, and other industrial applications.

How Does Antimony Affect the Human Body?

According to the EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, health effects from chronic antimony exposure include increased blood cholesterol, decreased blood sugar regulation, and potential organ stress affecting the liver and kidneys. At high acute exposure levels antimony causes strong gastrointestinal irritation including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Animal studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program documented effects on longevity, liver weight, and kidney weight at sustained exposure levels. Cardiovascular effects have also been observed in both occupational and animal studies at elevated doses.

The more significant concern for drinking water is not acute poisoning but chronic low level exposure over time. Antimony accumulates in soft tissues and organs and its long term systemic effects from ongoing ingestion through drinking water remain an active area of research. Decreased infant growth has also been identified as a concern with chronic exposure, making this contaminant of particular relevance to households with young children or pregnant women.

Antimony is not currently classified as a confirmed human carcinogen by the EPA though lung cancer has been observed in some occupational studies involving inhalation exposure at high concentrations.

Where Does Antimony in Drinking Water Come From?

Antimony reaches drinking water through several pathways. In areas with naturally occurring antimony bearing mineral deposits groundwater moving through those formations can pick up and carry antimony into private wells, a mechanism similar to how arsenic enters water in regions with arsenic rich bedrock. Industrial sources are a significant contributor in affected areas. According to EPA Toxics Release Inventory data, antimony and antimony compound releases to land and water have totaled millions of pounds historically, with the largest industrial releases occurring primarily from copper and lead smelting and refining operations. Antimony trioxide, the most widely used antimony compound and a common flame retardant in plastics, textiles, and electronics, is a documented environmental source in areas near manufacturing operations. Areas near industrial sites, mining operations, or heavy manufacturing carry elevated risk.

How It Works

Order your test and we will mail you a sample collection kit with easy to follow instructions. Collect a water sample from your tap and send it back to our in-house laboratory. Results are delivered within 1 to 3 business days from the date your sample arrives at our lab.

Understanding Your Results

Antimony results are measured against the EPA maximum contaminant level of 6 parts per billion. Every test includes a free consultation with one of our in-house water quality experts. Once your results are in, reach out by phone or email and we will walk you through what was found, what it means for your household, and help you determine the right next steps if anything of concern is detected. Reverse osmosis filtration is among the most effective treatment methods for reducing antimony levels in drinking water.

This test is recommended for homeowners whose water supply draws from areas near industrial operations, mining sites, smelting facilities, or regions with naturally occurring antimony bearing mineral deposits, anyone whose previous testing has shown elevated heavy metals in their water, households where lead, arsenic, or other heavy metals have been detected and a more complete heavy metal picture is desired, and environmental consultants and researchers requiring documented antimony analysis for site investigations.