Phossy jaw

Phossy jaw

Phossy jaw, formally phosphorus necrosis of the jaw is a deadly occupational hazard for those who work with white phosphorus without proper safeguards. It was most commonly seen in workers in the match industry in the 19th and early 20th century. Modern occupational hygiene practices have eliminated the conditions which lead to this affliction.

Chronic exposure to the vapour of yellow and white phosphorus, the active ingredient of most matches from the 1840s to the 1910s, caused a deposition of phosphorus in the jaw bones. It also caused serious brain damage. Workers afflicted would begin suffering painful toothaches and swelling of the gums. Over time, the jaw bone would begin to abscess, a process which was both extremely painful and disfiguring to the patient, and repellent to others, since drainage from the dying bone tissue was exceedingly foul-smelling. The jawbones would gradually rot away and would actually glow a greenish-white color in the dark. Surgical removal of the afflicted jaw bones might save the sufferers' life at this point—otherwise, death from organ failure would invariably follow.

The Salvation Army was instrumental in bringing about changes in match manufacturing which eliminated the disease. [ [http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV/STANDARD/PC_60859.html] ] In some nations, legislative action was required to force these changes on a reluctant industry. [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~belghist/Flanders/Pages/phossy.htm Phossy jaw] ]

A related condition, osteonecrosis of the jaw, has been described as a side-effect of bisphosphonates, a class of phosphorus-based drugs that inhibit bone resorption, and are used widely for treating osteoporosis, bone disease in cancer and some other conditions.Durie BG, Katz M, Crowley J. Osteonecrosis of the jaw and bisphosphonates. "N Engl J Med" 2005;353:99-102. PMID: 16000365]

ee also

*Osteonecrosis of the jaw
*Industrial injury
*London matchgirls strike of 1888

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.onj-net.org/ Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Disease Information]


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  • phossy jaw — n. colloq. hist. gangrene of the jawbone caused by phosphorus poisoning. Etymology: abbr. * * * ˈfäsē noun Etymology: phossy from phos (short for New Latin phosphorus) + y : a jawbone destroyed by chronic phosphorus poisoning * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • phossy jaw — [ fɒsi] noun historical, informal gangrene of the jawbone caused by phosphorus poisoning. Origin C19: phossy by abbrev. of phosphorus necrosis, denoting gangrene of the jaw …   English new terms dictionary

  • phossy jaw — noun A disease resulting from exposure to white phosphorus causing degeneration of the teeth and jaw. Syn: phosphorus necrosis of the jaw …   Wiktionary

  • phossy jaw — phos·sy jaw fä sē n a jawbone destroyed by chronic phosphorus poisoning called also phosphonecrosis * * * phosphorus necrosis …   Medical dictionary

  • phossy —   n. n. necrosis of jaw among workers handling phosphorus …   Dictionary of difficult words

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