White phosphorous is made from rocks. It can be white, A yellow color., or odorless with a garlic-like odor.

It’s highly flammable and can spontaneously catch fire when it encounters oxygen 10 to 15 degrees above room temperature.

White phosphorous is used to make many products. It is also used to make smoke.

Burns from white phosphorous are relatively rare but can cause second- to third-degree burns and life threatening organ damage.

People who work in industries where white phosphorous is manufactured or military personnel who live in warzones are the most likely to see it.

White phosphorous burns can be treated and symptoms can be learned.

White phosphorous can cause life threatening symptoms.

  • It contacts your eyes.
  • You eat it.
  • You breathe in it.

Chronic exposure to smaller amounts can impact your health.

Skin and eye contact

If white phosphorous or its smoke contacts your skin, it can immediately cause severely It is a pain.ful second-degree or third-degree burns. It’s easily absorbed through your skin, and toxicity can cause whole-body effects like liver or kidney damage.

Eye exposure can cause symptoms.

Inhalation

Breathing in smoke from white phosphorous can cause serious health problems.

Exposure to large amounts can cause harm.

  • There is damage to the heart.
  • There is damage to the liver.
  • There is damage to the heart.
  • A coma.

Too much exposure can cause death.

Ingestion

Ingestion can cause irritation in your mouth, throat, and stomach.

It can cause life threatening effects if you ingest large amounts. The effects are in three phases.

  • Shock phase: Gastrointestinal effects can develop within the first few minutes to 8 hours after exposure. Toxicity may be severe enough to cause death within 24 to 48 hours.
  • Asymptomatic phase: The second stage lasts for 8 hours to 3 days and is characterized by a lack of symptoms.
  • Multi-organ failure: After 4 to 8 days, people may experience multi-organ failure or injury of the brain and spinal cord that can lead to death.

Chronic exposure

Low amounts of white phosphorous can be a problem.

White phosphorous burns can be second- or third-degree. Second-degree burns reach the deeper part of your skin called your dermis. They can cause:

  • blisters
  • redness
  • swelling
  • It is a pain.

Third-degree burns penetrate your skin completely and may damage the underlying tissue. They may not hurt if they damage nerve endings.

Third-degree burns may turn instead of turning red.

  • black
  • A yellow color.
  • white

Smoke and a garlic-like odor may come from the burn site.

Workers in manufacturing industries are at the highest risk of exposure to white phosphorous. White phosphorous is used in war zones and military personnel and civilians are at risk.

White phosphorous can build up in fish living in contaminated lakes or streams, or in fish that are not exposed to oxygen.

White phosphorous can be found at the bottom of lakes and rivers near factories.

One case study presented a woman and her daughter who were burned when they were collecting rocks on a beach near Tel Aviv, Israel. They found an unusual translucent A yellow color. rock and brought it home wrapped in a wet paper towel.

The mother was burned when the rock exploded when they opened the paper towel. The rock was white.

The U.S. military uses white phosphorous to create smoke screens, illuminate targets, and mark targets.

There is disagreement about the legality of white phosphorous bombs and other weapons.

White phosphorous is not banned for military use under international treaties. Weapons that cause unnecessary suffering are banned by some treaties.

White phosphorous is considered illegal if used when not needed.

White phosphorous is used in manufacturing.

  • Chemicals in food.
  • Food Additives
  • cleaning parts

It has been used as a pesticide and in fireworks.

The treatment for white phosphorous burns involves removing the phosphorus from the skin and using cold water to cool the skin.

Medical professionals may use copper sulfate to counteract white phosphorous.

A variety of medical treatments are used to treat symptoms. These may include:

Medical emergency

White phosphorous burns are medical emergencies that need immediate attention. If you are with someone who is burning their skin, it is important to call emergency medical services immediately.

Treating white phosphorous burns in the eyes

  1. The person is the source of white phosphorous.
  2. Wash their eyes with cold water for 15 minutes or more.
  3. Keep their eyes covered with cool wet compresses to prevent white phosphorous particles from catching on fire again.
  4. If you apply fat or oil, do not do it.
  5. If you can, consider applying an eye cage.
  6. Seek medical attention.

Treating white phosphorous burns on the skin

  1. The person is the source of white phosphorous.
  2. They should put their clothing in a labeled bag.
  3. Vigorously cleanse their skin with soap and cold water.
  4. Remove visible pieces of white phosphorous with large amounts of cold water and put them in a container with cold water to keep them from catching on fire.
  5. If you apply fat or oil, do not do it.
  6. Seek medical attention.

White phosphorous catches on fire when it gets too warm. It can cause serious burns on your skin or eyes and can be life threatening.

People who work in manufacturing industries are more likely to experience white phosphorous burns. Military personnel and civilians are at risk of exposure.

White phosphorous burns are medical emergencies that need immediate medical attention. If you have a burn victim, it is important to get them to an area where they can get emergency medical attention as soon as possible.