UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D,C. 20460
EPA-SAB-EHC-89-029
OFFICE OF
THE ADMINISTRATOR
July 17, 1989
Honorable William K. Reilly
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Subject: Science Advisory Board's review of the ANTIMONY health
criteria document
Dear Mr. Reilly:
The Metals Subcommittee of the science Advisory Board's
Environmental Health Committee has completed its review of the
Drinking Water Health Criteria Document for Antimony dated
January, 1988. The review was conducted December 8-9, 1988 at the
One Washington circle Hotel in Washington,D.C. Participants in
the review are listed in Enclosure l. The Subcommittee review
focused on two primary issues:
Is antimony tartrate, for which the largest body of
data exists, an acceptable compound upon which to base
Drinking Water Equivalent Level (DWEL) calculations?
Is the Schroeder et al (1970) study appropriate for
deriving the Lowest Observable Effect Level (LOAEL)?
The Office of Drinking Water has identified a LOAEL of 0-43
mg/kg/day based on the Schroeder study noted above—a life-time
ingestion study (via drinking water) which reported decreased
longevity and altered blood levels of glucose and cholesterol in
rats dosed with potassium antimony tartrate. With an uncertainty
factor of 1000 ("standard" for LOAEL in animal studies), this
produced a Reference Dose of 0.00043 mg/kg/day, and with the usual
assumptions about body weight, drinking water consumption, and
routes of exposure, a DWEL of 0.015 mg/1 of antimony.
The Subcommittee found that the antimony tartrate data are
acceptable for determining the DWEL. The problem of comparing the
toxicity of the tartrate form, rather than an oxide of antimony
(which is presumed to be the form encountered in drinking water)
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is important, but without specific data on the oxide, the tartrate
data is the sole alternative.
The Subcommittee also found the Schroeder et al study
acceptable for determining the LOAEL. Although these data are based
on animals, rather than humans, it is the best body of information
available. Consequently, the Committee accepts the proposed LOAEL
of 0,43 rag/kg/day.
Taking this information together, the Subcommittee found the
proposed DWEL of 0.015 mg/1 resulting from the data to be a
reasonable and conservative finding.
Because of the absence of other acceptable studies, and given
the questions and uncertainties surrounding the Prebyl (1927) data,
the Subcommittee recommends that the DWEL value also be used for
the ten day Health Advisory calculation.
The Subcommittee found that, in general, the antimony criteria
document was well prepared. A number of detailed comments and
suggestions, on editorial and technical issues have been provided
separately to the program office.
The Subcommittee appreciates the opportunity to present our
views on the antimony health criteria document. We looK forward to
the Agency's response to our report.
Enclosure
Dr. Raymond Loehr, Chairman
Science Advisory Board
Dr. Arthur Upton, Chairman
Environmental Health Committee
Dr. Bernard Weiss, chairman
Metals subcommittee

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EFA-SABHEHC-89-029
ABSTRACT
This report presents the conclusions and recommendations of
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's science Advisory Board
summarizing a review of the Drinking Water Health Criteria Document
for Antimony. The Board's major conclusion is that the proposed
Drinking Water Equivalent Level (DWEL) of 0.015 mg/1 of antimony,
based on the 1970 Schroeder et al study for the Lowest Observable
Adverse Effects Level (LOAEL), is appropriate. The Board also
found that the use of antimony tartrate acceptable for determining
the DWEL.
Kev Words: Antimony,* DWEL; LOAEL; drinking water.

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U.S Envi rontiental Protection Agency
Science Advisory Board
Environmental Health Committee
Metals Subcommittee
CHARIHAN
Dr. Bernard Weiss
Division of Toxicology
P.O. Box RBB
University of Rochester
School of Medicine
Rochester, NY 14642
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Or. Ronald Wyzga
Electric Power Research Institute
3412 Hi 11 view Avenue
P.O. Box 1041
Palo Alto, California 94303
Dr» Thomas Clarkson
Division of Toxicology
University of Rochester
School of Medicine
Post Office Box RBB,
Rochester, New York 14642
Dr. Gary Diamond
Toxicology Center Director
Syracuse Research Corporation
Merrill Lane
Syracuse, New York 13210
Dr. Phil Enterline
Department of Biostatistics
Graduate School of Public Health
University of Pittsburg
130 Desoto Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Dr. Marvin Kuschner
Professor of Pathology
Dept. of Pathology
School of Medicine
Health Science Center
Stony Brook, New York 11794
Enclosure (1)

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Dr. Brooke T. Mossman
Department of Pathology
The University of Vermont
Medical Alumni Building
Burlington, Vermont 05405-0068
Dr. Guenter Oberdoerster
Radiation Biology and
Biophysics Division
University of Rochester
School of Medicine
400	Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, N.Y. 14642
Dr. Kenneth Reuhl (Neurotoxicology)
Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Neurotoxicology Laboratory
College of Pharmacy
Rutgers University
Busch Campus
Piscataway, NJ 08855-0789
Or. F. William Sunderman
Department of Laboratory Medicine
University of Connecticut
Health Center, Room C 2021
Farroirsgton, Connecticut 06032
Executive Secretary
Mr. Samuel Rondberg
Executive Secretary
Metals Subcommittee
Science Advisory Board (A-101F)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Staff Secretary
, Mary L. Winston
Staff Secretary
Environmental Health Committee
Science Advisory Board (A-101F)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
SAB Staff Director
Donald 8. Barnes
Di rector
Science Advisory Board
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401	M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

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