Levels of urinary antimony reflect recent exposure. Earlier measurements in general populations (Minoia et al., 1990; Paschal et al., 1998) or compiled reference ranges (Hamilton et al., 1994) have reported values slightly higher than those reported in the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, which may be due to methodologic, population, or exposure differences (CDC, 2012). Levels of urinary antimony in infants appeared to be similar to those reported by CDC (2012) for young children (Cullen et al., 1998; Dezateux et al., 1997). Urinary antimony was not associated with locally elevated soil levels in a study of more than 200 German residents (Gebel et al., 1998). Several investigations of airborne antimony exposures in workers have found urinary levels that are many times higher than those seen in NHANES 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004, even when exposure levels were below workplace air standards (Bailly et al., 1991; Iavicoli et al., 2002; Kentner et al., 1995; Liao Y-H et al., 2004; Ludersdorf et al., 1987).

Finding a measurable amount of antimony in urine does not imply that the level of antimony causes an adverse health effect. Biomonitoring studies on levels of urinary antimony can provide physicians and public health officials with reference values so that they can determine whether people have been exposed to higher levels of antimony than are found in the general population. Biomonitoring data can also help scientists plan and conduct research on exposure and health effects.