- 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 thematch industry in the 19th and early 20th century. Modernoccupational hygiene practices have eliminated the conditions which lead to this affliction.Chronic exposure to the
vapour of yellow andwhite phosphorus , the active ingredient of most matches from the 1840s to the 1910s, caused a deposition of phosphorus in thejaw bone s. 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 toabscess , 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 fromorgan 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 ofbisphosphonate s, a class of phosphorus-based drugs that inhibit bone resorption, and are used widely for treatingosteoporosis , bone disease incancer 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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