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Why are antimony and many of its compounds toxic?

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A labeled periodic table entry for antimony shows its symbol Sb, atomic number 51, atomic weight 121.76, electron configuration, and name. It is a solid, weakly acidic other metal with a rhombohedral crystal structure at room temperature. — antimony Properties of antimony.

The toxicity of antimony and many of its compounds is primarily attributed to their interaction with enzymes, which are the organic catalysts within cells. By binding with these enzymes, antimony interferes with essential cellular metabolism, a mechanism of toxicity that is similar to that of arsenic.1

Because of this interference with biological functions, exposure to antimony can lead to antimony poisoning. Historically, the dangers associated with these compounds were significant enough that their medicinal use was temporarily outlawed due to the number of fatalities they caused. Today, while certain compounds like tartar emetic are still utilized in specific medical or industrial applications, they must be handled with caution, as the maximum tolerable concentration of antimony dust in the air is strictly regulated at approximately 0.5 milligrams per cubic meter.21