Antimony powder sedimentation disease

　　How is antimony dust deposition caused? Briefly described as follows:

　　1. Etiology

　　Antimony pneumoconiosis is a lung disease caused by long-term inhalation of metallic antimony and antimony trioxide fumes during the production process. In industry, antimony is mainly used to make alloys, and its oxides can be made into pigments for use in enamel, ceramics, paints, and rubber industries. The mining of antimony ore, especially during the smelting, refining, and alloy production processes, can produce a large amount of antimony fumes.

　　2. Pathogenesis

　　There are different opinions on the role of antimony in causing pneumoconiosis. Karajovic (1957) first reported that among workers exposed to antimony trioxide dust in a smelter in Yugoslavia, 31 cases of antimony pneumoconiosis were found. Subsequently, many scholars reported nearly a hundred cases of antimony pneumoconiosis. Bouffont (1987) reported two cases of lung biopsy specimens from patients diagnosed with antimony dust deposition, where fibrosis was found around the dust lesions. China has abundant antimony reserves, and in the 1960s and 1970s, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Hunan reported more than 300 cases of antimony pneumoconiosis in succession, and conducted in-depth research on the biological effects of antimony. In 1983, Chinese scholars believed that antimony dust has a more serious impact on the lungs than tin dust, and can cause acute or chronic interstitial pneumonia.

　　There is little pathological data on antimony pneumoconiosis. In 1967, Mecallum reported on a case of a smelter worker who died of lung cancer, where the pathological examination found a large amount of antimony dust deposition around alveolar spaces, alveolar septa, and small blood vessels, as well as a reaction of dust-laden macrophages, without fibrosis. China has reported four cases of pathological changes in smelter workers who were not diagnosed with antimony pneumoconiosis before death, including chronic bronchitis, bullous emphysema, fibrosis around small bronchi and alveolar septa, and dust deposition in hilar lymph nodes. In 1984, several Chinese scholars repeatedly injected antimony dust into rats through the trachea, 50mg per rat each time. Three months after the second dust exposure, nodules in the lungs appeared with reticular fibers but no collagen fibers; after the fourth dust exposure six months later, nodules appeared with collagen fibers; but by nine months, the dust lesions decreased, showing regression or disappearance of lesions, with most of the dust in the lungs being cleared.

　　High concentrations of metallic antimony and its oxides can produce irritant effects, causing conjunctivitis, keratitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, and chemical pneumonia, and can cause damage to organs such as the heart, liver, and nervous system. Some believe that long-term inhalation of more than 10mg/m³The concentration of antimony can lead to interstitial pneumonia and focal pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, metals such as barium, titanium, tungsten, and certain rare earth metals like cerium can also cause metal dust lung disease in the lungs.

　　The symptoms of antimony dust pneumoconiosis patients are generally mild, and there are no obvious signs. The main symptoms include cough, sputum, chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, etc. Some workers may experience fatigue, decreased appetite, antimony dermatitis, etc. Pulmonary ventilation function has decreased, and there is no diffusion function damage.

　　The preventive measures for antimony dust deposition are to leave the dust working environment, do a good job of pre-employment and regular physical examinations, regularly take chest X-rays, and also regularly follow up on those who have left the dust working environment. Strengthen personal protection, pay attention to personal hygiene, carry out physical exercise, pay attention to nutrition, etc.

　　Antimony dust deposition generally undergoes chest X-ray examination, and the examination findings can be divided into three stages:

　　1. The initial stage of morphological change.It is the dense and irregular shadows and low-density round-like shadows in the lung field.

　　2. The stage of dot deposition.Both lungs are full of 2-4mm high-density, sharp-edged, dot-like shadows, and the hilum shadow has a high density, similar to a metal block shadow.

　　3. The stage of metal block shadow formation in the hilum of the lung.There are various morphological shadows around the first-level bronchus around the hilum of the lung, arranged in a high-density along the bronchus, which is the deposition of antimony dust in the bronchus and lung lymph nodes. Pulmonary function tests mainly show that the maximum ventilation volume and the first second vital capacity are significantly lower than those of normal people.

　　Patients with antimony dust deposition should have a light diet, eat more vegetables and fruits, rationally match their diet, and ensure adequate nutrition. Avoid smoking and drinking, spicy and刺激性 food, and salty food.

　　The treatment methods for antimony dust deposition are briefly described as follows:

　　1. Treatment

　　Symptomatic treatment is generally adopted for patients with antimony dust pneumoconiosis. There have been reports that a metal chelating agent, disodium dithiocarbamate (disulfide dithiocarbamate), was used to treat 28 patients with antimony dust pneumoconiosis for a total of 3 months, and it was found that the blood antimony and hair antimony content decreased, the excretion of urinary antimony and fecal antimony increased, and the patient's X-ray chest film and symptoms improved to varying degrees.

　　2. Prognosis

　　The prognosis is generally good.