Sir Thomas Oliver (1853-1942) and the health of antimony workers.

ABSTRACT

Imported antimony sulphide ore has been processed in the north-east of England on Tyneside since 1864, first at Gateshead and then at Willington Quay, until the process closed in 2000. The health of antimony workers was a concern of Sir Thomas Oliver (1853-1942) who was distinguished in the field of occupational medicine, particularly in connection with diseases due to lead exposure. Antimony appears to have fascinated him but he underestimated its toxic effects on the process workers in concluding that they were healthy and that there were no industrial hygiene problems in the process. Subsequent investigations have presented a much less satisfactory picture although in recent times the factory atmosphere had been transformed so that Oliver's view had probably come true.