Weight-for-weight, phosphorus is the most effective smoke-screening agent known,[60] for two reasons: first, it absorbs most of the screening mass from the surrounding atmosphere and secondly, the smoke particles are actually an aerosol, a mist of liquid droplets which are close to the ideal range of sizes for Mie scattering of visible light. The United States has accused Taliban militants of using white phosphorus weapons illegally on at least 44 occasions. (Further information is available through AEGL Processexternal icon). If on the other hand the toxic properties of white phosphorus are specifically intended to be used as a weapon, that, of course, is prohibited, because the way the convention is structured or applied, any chemicals used against humans or animals that cause harm or death through the toxic properties of the chemical are considered chemical weapons. Exposure to white phosphorus may cause burns and irritation, liver, kidney, heart, lung, or bone damage, and ... catching fire at temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above room temperature. An annex lists chemicals that are restricted under the convention, and WP is not listed in the Schedules of chemical weapons or precursors.[74]. Novaexcel 140, 150, F 5, ST 100, ST 140, or ST 300, Novared 120UF, 120UFA, 120VFA, 140, 280, C 120 or F5. Walsh ME, Taylor S [1993]. The report argues that the use of these munitions was limited to unpopulated areas for marking and signalling and not as an anti-personnel weapon. WHITE PHOSPHORUS is reacts readily with most oxidizing agents. The term "unnecessary suffering" is defined through use of a proportionality test, comparing the anticipated military advantage of the weapon's use to the amount of suffering potentially caused. They cause damage to the cornea, including perforation, inflammation of the interior of the eyeball (endophthalmitis), and abnormal turning out of the eyelid (ectropion). Phosphorus in its elemental form can com in the form of P4 molecules (white phosphorous) or as a covalent network (red and black phosphorus) In recent years, concentrated phosphoric acids, which may contain as much as 70% to 75% P2O5 content, have become of great importance to agriculture and farm produ… For large fires, use cold water spray or fog. These submunitions typically land in an elliptical pattern 125-250 meters in diameter,[41] with the size of the effect area depending on the burst height, and produce a smokescreen 10 metres in height. Immediately remove the patient/victim from the source of exposure. Not So Fast", "U.S.: Afghan Militants Use White Phosphorus", "EXCLUSIVE – Afghan girl's burns show horror of chemical strike", "Pinned Down, a Sprint to Escape Taliban Zone", "Investigation Launched Into White Phosphorus Claims In Afghanistan", "Statement on the use of white phosphorus bomb by the armed forces of Armenia against civilians and civilian objects of Azerbaijan", "Specialists eliminate white phosphorus shell fired by Armenia on Azerbaijan's Terter", "Defense Ministry spokesman responds to Azerbaijani allegations of white phosphorus usage: Azerbaijan is in an ill-mannered delusion", "NKR MFA: Falsification and distortion of reality is integral part of Azerbaijan's foreign policy", "Azerbaijan staged a story about white phosphorus", "VIDEO: Syria regime drops white phosphorus on Idlib's Saraqeb", "U.S.-Led Forces Said to Have Used White Phosphorus in Syria", "Video shows Russia using 'white phosphorus' bombs in Syria, activists claim", "Turkey urges Russia to stop attacks against civilians in Syria", "UK sells white phosphorus to Turkey as evidence grows of chemical attacks on Kurds", "Հաղորդագրություն | ԼՂՀ պաշտպանության նախարարության պաշտոնական կայք", "New evidence of using phosphorus munitions with clear chemical elements by #Azerbaijani military in #Artsakh/#Karabakh - against forests & most importantly civilians - civilians are hiding in forests during these days, causing mass destructions #DontBeBlind #terrorism #WarCrimes", https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224560/, https://jramc.bmj.com/content/jramc/148/4/395.full.pdf, "ATSDR – Minimal Risk Levels for Hazardous Substances (MRLs)", "TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR WHITE PHOSPHORUS", https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/wp.htm, "The Use of White Phosphorus and the Law of War", https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/incendiary-legal.htm, "Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)", The Legality of the Use of White Phosphorus by the United States Military During the 2004 Fallujah Assaults, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_phosphorus_munitions&oldid=991287089, Wikipedia extended-confirmed-protected pages, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, Articles with dead external links from January 2020, Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 November 2020, at 07:51. White phosphorus catches fire spontaneously in air, burning to make smoke of phosphorus(V) oxide. [76], This article is about military applications. [white phosphorus] to flush them out and H.E. In November 2005, the US ambassador to the United Kingdom, Robert Tuttle, wrote to The Independent also denying that the United States used white phosphorus as a weapon in Fallujah. The decontamination zone for exiting should be upwind and uphill from the zone used to enter. If it burns in a little air, it produces poisonous phosphorus(III) oxide. Upper and lower explosive (flammable) limits in air are not available for white phosphorus. Keep exposed eyes covered with wet compresses to prevent white phosphorus particles from re-igniting. [69] The agency cautioned that studies used to determine the MRL were based on extrapolations from animal testing and may not accurately reflect the health risk to humans. The claim was denied by Venable who also stated that "When you have enemy forces that are in covered positions that your high explosive artillery rounds are not having an impact on and you wish to get them out of those positions, one technique is to fire a white phosphorus round into the position because the combined effects of the fire and smoke - and in some case the terror brought about by the explosion on the ground - will drive them out of the holes so that you can kill them with high explosives. Coveralls, long underwear, a hard hat worn under the chemical-resistant suit, and chemical-resistant disposable boot-covers worn over the chemical-resistant suit are optional items. In the DOT ERG 2004 orange-bordered section of the guidebook, there are public safety recommendations to isolate a white phosphorus (Guide 136) spill or leak area immediately for at least 150 ft (50 m) for liquids and 75 ft (25 m) for solids in all directions. Decontamination area workers should wear appropriate PPE. By contrast, the chemical weapon mustard gas is 30 times more potent: 0.0007 mg/m3. Do not scatter spilled material with high-pressure cold water streams. The agent may be transported in a molten form. Whether a Podcaster, Video-blogger, Musician, or Writer, you will have our full support in fulfilling your creative destiny – and you will never again have to worry about pleasing those who would see that fire … The continued burning of white phosphorus is found in three main forms:,... Of accumulation of fluid in the interwar years, the phosphorus would burst into flames by contrast, US. Room where they were sheltering and Protective Action Distances of whole-body ( systemic ) effects vapour density indicates the... Move in a little air, burning white phosphorus grenades in late 1916 during white phosphorus fire first official! 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