Phossy jaw
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2008-06-15T13:32:38Z
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'''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 [[white phosphorus]], the active ingredient of most matches from the 1840s to the 1910s, caused a deposition of phosphorus in the [[jaw]] [[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 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.
Public revulsion eventually caused changes in match manufacturing which eliminated the disease. In some nations, legislative action was required to force these changes on a reluctant industry.<ref> [http://www.rootsweb.com/~belghist/Flanders/Pages/phossy.htm Phossy jaw]</ref>
A related condition, [[osteonecrosis of the jaw]], has been described as a side-effect of [[bisphosphonate]]s, 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.<ref name="Durie 2005">Durie BG, Katz M, Crowley J. Osteonecrosis of the jaw and bisphosphonates. ''[[N Engl J Med]]'' 2005;353:99-102. PMID: 16000365</ref>
==See also==
*[[Osteonecrosis of the jaw]]
*[[Industrial injury]]
*[[London matchgirls strike of 1888]]
==Footnotes==
<references/>
== External links ==
*[http://www.onj-net.org/ Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Disease Information]
[[Category:Phosphorus]]
[[Category:Occupational diseases]]