Recognition of the Causative Agent of "Phossy Jaw" and "Fragile Femur" in Fumes Arising from White Phosphorus

• Published in: Phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon and the related elements Vol. 190; no. 12; pp. 2082 - 2093
• Main Authors: Hinshaw, William Banks, Quin, Louis DuBose
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.12.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: atypical femur fractures; bisphosphonates; Fractures; osteonecrosis of the jaws; Phosphorus; Phossy jaw; pyrophosphoric acid; white phosphorus

Exposure to the fumes and smoke from white phosphorus pastes in the strike-anywhere match industry was associated, in the latter half of the 19th century, with a low incidence of necrotic lesions of the jaw bones and/or a fragility of the mid-femur occasioning fractures after minor trauma. Hundreds...