Phosphorus poisoning

Phosphorus has a wide range of uses. It is used in the manufacture of matches, fireworks, firecrackers, signal bombs, certain synthetic dyes, artificial phosphate fertilizers, pesticides, rodenticides and medical drugs. Old-style matchsticks contain yellow phosphorus and are highly toxic. At present, daily matchsticks produced daily do not contain phosphorus, but some matchbox medicines contain about 40% red phosphorus. Phosphorus sulfide matches that can be ignited anywhere contain about 10% of tetraphosphorus trisulfide (P4S3), which is toxic. Mostly caused by the misuse of phosphorus-containing rodenticides such as zinc phosphide, occasionally caused by swallowing match heads containing yellow phosphorus; if chewing the side of a matchbox containing phosphides or red phosphorus, Symptoms of poisoning appear. Red phosphorus generally contains 0.6% to 1% yellow phosphorus. Few people are poisoned by inhalation of yellow phosphorus smoke or phosphine.