Antimony in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Long-term exposure above the MCL can increase blood cholesterol and decrease blood sugar. Short-term exposure at high levels causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
📍 Sources in Water
Occurs naturally and enters water from petroleum refinery discharge, fire retardants manufacturing, ceramics production, and natural deposits.
✅ What To Do
Reverse osmosis and coagulation/filtration are effective treatment methods. Antimony violations in public water systems are uncommon.
📜 Regulation History
The EPA set the antimony MCL at 0.006 mg/L (6 ppb) in 1992 under the Phase V rule. The WHO guideline is 0.02 mg/L, less strict than the US standard. Antimony regulation was driven by concerns about chronic exposure from industrial discharge and natural deposits.
🔬 How To Test Your Water
Certified lab tests for antimony cost $15-$30. Home test kits for antimony are not commonly available. A comprehensive metals panel from a certified lab will typically include antimony along with other inorganics.
💧 Which Filters Remove Antimony?
Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58 certified) is the most effective home treatment for antimony. Coagulation/filtration at the municipal level is also effective. Standard carbon filters are generally not effective against antimony.
Check your tap water for Antimony
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Antimony violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.