Classical syndromes in occupational medicine: Phosphorus necrosis—A classical occupational disease

Abstract

A disease nearly extinct in occupational health history is phosphorus necrosis, previously seen in near-epidemic proportions among workers making phosphorus-containing matches. Similar destructive lesions were encountered early in the 20th century among personnel fabricating fireworks. Through the diligent efforts of an economist and a supportive congressman, legislation was passed in 1912 placing a tax on phosphorus matches, and because of the fiscal burden resulting, a nontoxic substitute for elemental phosphorus was adopted by all manufacturers. Today phosphorus necrosis is extremely rare, but the former presence of the disease points up both apathy and courage in the identification and eradication of a remarkably disfiguring work-caused disease.