September 1997 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
White Phosphorus |
(Fósforo
Blanco) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about white phosphorus. For more information,
you may call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-8737.
This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous
substances and their health effects. This information is important
because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure
to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration,
how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether
other chemicals are present.
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HIGHLIGHTS: White phosphorus
is a waxy solid which burns easily and is used in chemical
manufacturing and smoke munitions. Exposure to white phosphorus
may cause burns and irritation, liver, kidney, heart,
lung, or bone damage, and death. White phosphorus has
been found in at least 77 of the 1,416 National Priorities
List sites identified by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). |
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What
is white phosphorus? |
White phosphorus is a colorless, white,
or yellow waxy solid with a garlic-like odor. It does not
occur naturally, but is manufactured from phosphate rocks.
White phosphorus reacts rapidly with
oxygen, easily catching fire at temperatures 10 to 15 degrees
above room temperature.
White phosphorus is used by the military
in various types of ammunition, and to produce smoke for concealing
troop movements and identifying targets.
It is also used by industry to produce
phosphoric acid and other chemicals for use in fertilizers,
food additives, and cleaning compounds. Small amounts of white
phosphorus were used in the past in pesticides and fireworks.
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What
happens to white phosphorus when it enters the environment? |
- White phosphorus can enter the environment when it is
made, used in manufacturing or by the military, or accidentally
spilled during transport and storage.
- It can be found in the water and bottom sediment of rivers
and lakes near facilities that make or use it.
- In the air, white phosphorus reacts rapidly with oxygen
to produce relatively harmless chemicals within minutes.
- In water, white phosphorus reacts with oxygen within hours
or days.
- In water with low oxygen, white phosphorus may degrade
to a highly toxic compound called phosphine, which eventually
evaporates to the air and is changed to less harmful chemicals.
- White phosphorus can build up slightly in the bodies of
fish that live in contaminated lakes or streams.
- In soil, white phosphorus may stick to particles and be
changed within a few days to less harmful compounds.
- In deep soil or sediments with little oxygen, white phosphorus
may remain unchanged for many years.
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How
might I be exposed to white phosphorus? |
- Breathing contaminated air near a facility that is using
white phosphorus.
- Eating contaminated fish or game birds from sites containing
white phosphorus.
- Drinking or swimming in water that has been contaminated
with white phosphorus.
- Touching soil contaminated with white phosphorus.
- If you work in industries that use or manufacture white
phosphorus or munitions containing white phosphorus.
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How
can white phosphorus affect my health? |
Little information is available about
the health effects that may be caused by white phosphorus.
Most of what is known about the effects of breathing white
phosphorus is from studies of workers. Most of what is known
about the effects of eating white phosphorus is from reports
of people eating rat poison or fireworks that contained it.
Breathing white phosphorus for short
periods may cause coughing and irritation of the throat and
lungs. Breathing white phosphorus for long periods may cause
a condition known as "phossy jaw" which involves poor wound
healing of the mouth and breakdown of the jaw bone.
Eating or drinking small amounts of white
phosphorus may cause liver, heart, or kidney damage, vomiting,
stomach cramps, drowsiness, or death. We do not know what
the effects are from eating or drinking very small amounts
of white phosphorus-containing substances over long periods
of time. Skin contact with burning white phosphorus may burn
skin or cause liver, heart, and kidney damage.
We do not know whether or not white phosphorus
can affect the ability to have children or cause birth defects
in people.
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How
likely is white phosphorus to cause cancer? |
The EPA has determined that white phosphorus
is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity in humans. There
are no studies available in people or animals that suggest
white phosphorus causes cancer.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to white
phosphorus? |
There is no medical test that shows if
you have been exposed to white phosphorus. However, the above
health effects may lead your doctor to suspect that you have
been exposed if you have a history of exposure.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The EPA has listed white phosphorus as
a Hazardous Air Pollutant. The EPA requires that spills or
accidental releases into the environment of 1 pound or
more of white phosphorus be reported to the EPA.
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), and the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have all set the inhalation
exposure limit for white phosphorus in the workplace during
an 8-hour workday at 0.1 milligram of white phosphorus per
cubic meter of air (0.1 mg/m³).
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Glossary |
Carcinogenicity: Ability to cause cancer.
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.
Evaporate: To change into a vapor or
gas.
Milligram (mg): One thousandth of a gram.
Sediment: Mud and debris that have settled
to the bottom of a body of water.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1997. Toxicological Profile for white phosphorus. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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Where can I get more information? |
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns. For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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