An occupational disease that affects those who…

An occupational disease that affects those who work with white phosphorus is phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, also known as phossy jaw; the condition is not associated with red phosphorus.

Phossy jaw develops by inhalation of phosphorus vapor—particularly when the ingredient is heated—which causes osteonecrosis of the jaw bone.

This manifests itself in, initially, toothaches and flu-like symptoms, then tooth loss, abscesses, swelling of the gums, the formation of fistula and necrosis of the jaw.

Mortality is reported in around twenty per cent of cases.