Matchmakers' "phossy jaw" eradicated.

Details

• Personal Author:
  McGlothlin, James D. ; Myers, Melvin L.
• Description:
  Efforts associated with the worldwide eradication of phosphorus necrosis ("Phossy jaw") were reviewed. This disease was seen in factory workers occupationally exposed to phosphorus (7723140) during the manufacture of matches. Phosphorus containing matches stopped being produced following the passage of the Match Act of 1912 which established a prohibitive tax on each box of matches made with white phosphorus. This action came as a result of the investigative and lobbying efforts of the American Association for Labor Legislation and studies conducted by Dr. Alice Hamilton. The concomitant availability of sesquisulfide, a safe alternative for white phosphorus, helped eradicate the production of phosphorus containing matches, and the associated necrosis. Enactment of the Public Health Service Act in 1912 allowed for the enforcement of the Match Act through inspections and a rapid method for differentiating between the toxic white and yellow phosphorus from nontoxic red phosphorus and sesquisulfide was soon developed. The early history of "Phossy jaw" was reviewed. The authors conclude that the eradication of "Phossy jaw" is an example of the prevention of an occupational disease by international actions through the power of national governments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Phosphorous Compounds Safety
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Author; Occupational-diseases; Occupational-exposure; Phosphorus-compounds; Factory-workers; Epidemiology; Regulations; Factory-workers
• ISSN:
  0002-8894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  330-332
• Volume:
  57
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00239175
• Citation:
  Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1996 Apr; 57(4):330-332
• CAS Registry Number:
  Phosphorus (CAS RN 7723-14-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1996
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/247915/cdc_247915_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]