--- title: Wars Most Horrific Weapon... description: "In the 15th century, a German man had the bright idea to boil vats of urine in an attempt to make gold. Unfortunately, what he created doesn't make people rich. It suffocates, poisons, and burns to the bone.\n\nWhite phosphorus is a substance that inflicts terror in anyone who knows enough about it. It can't be extinguished and will tunnel through flesh until it's exhausted. Even then, it can enter the body and kill the liver. Victims are easy to identify because their wounds will smoulder, their intestines may glow in the dark, and if they're unfortunate enough to consume it, their stools can give off smoke.\n\nHearing this, you might think it'd be a war crime to launch it into a city. But, thanks to a loophole in the regulations, it's not, and military organisations continue to use it to this day.\n\n## Turning Urine into a Deadly Weapon\n\nWhite phosphorus is a wax-like chemical substance that is pyrophoric, meaning it ignites upon contact with oxygen. Once alight, it burns fiercely between 800 and 1300°C and can't be extinguished until the phosphorus has been exhausted or it's starved of oxygen.\n\nIt was first discovered by alchemist Hennig Brandt in 1669 in his quest to create the philosopher's stone, an imagined artefact with the ability to turn cheap metals into gold. In one of his failed experiments, he boiled urine and then burned the residue that formed. This produced phosphorus gas, which, when condensed underwater, formed an eerie, glow-in-the-dark wax.\n\nAfter Hennig had determined that his creation wasn't going to make him any gold, he sold the instructions to a friend for 200 thalers (£1,000 in today's money). As word got out about the incredible new substance, various other chemists began to develop their own recipes, cooking dung, bone ash, and even brain matter. Today, white phosphorus is manufactured using the much more palatable technique of heating phosphate rock in the presence of carbon and silica.\n\n## Murder by Phosphorus\n\nUnsurprisingly for a substance that can spontaneously combust and glows green at night, white phosphorus can kill you in numerous ways, each more terrifying than the last.\n\nAt first, though, no one considered this new chemical dangerous, and pharmacists started selling phosphorus-laced \"luminous pills\" to treat gout and asthma and improve intelligence. Fortunately for most of their customers, the phosphorus was oxidising into harmless phosphate in between manufacture and ingestion, so not too many died.\n\nThen, in 1831, Charles Sauria had the bright idea of using white phosphorus in matches as an ignition agent, and that's when the deaths started ramping up.\n\nThe first victims were the men producing the phosphorus and the women making these \"Lucifer\" matches. Little did they know phosphorus vapour is incredibly toxic, and repeated inhalation can cause a condition known as \"phossy jaw,\" which is a cute name for the bones of the jaw dissolving inside your face.\n\nIn the best cases, sufferers experienced tooth loss, abscesses, and disfigurement. In 20% of cases, they died.\n\nAs soon as people finally figured out that white phosphorus shouldn't be ingested, they started using it as rat poison, and it was very effective. When consumed or absorbed into the bloodstream, the substance attacks the kidneys, liver and heart. This causes the liver to swell and induces vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, multiple organ failure, and an incredibly painful death in both rodents and humans.\n\nWith a brand new poison on the market, available as both soluble matches and an easy-to-consume bran-based rat killer, murderers were the next to embrace white phosphorus.\n\nA popular method was to soak match heads in brandy or wine. Initially, this concoction was invented to induce abortions and as a male aphrodisiac. But, when 90% of drinkers died, it was soon picked up as an easy way to kill someone. Fortunately, white phosphorus matches were finally banned in 1906. Not because they'd become a weapon for murder, but due to public outrage surrounding the suffering of the ex-match girls who were now struggling to survive without their jaw bones.\n\nWith Lucifers off the table, people started hiding the phosphorus-based rat poison, Rodine, in their victims' food. In fact, the MO became so popular that Agatha Christie used phosphorus in \"Dumb Witness,\" where the victim was found dead and glowing from the mouth after a seance.\n\nRat poisoning gained particular popularity in the north of England, which experienced an outbreak of so-called \"Rodine murders\" throughout the 1950s. In one example, straight out of a clichéd murder mystery, a housekeeper named Louisa Merrifield poisoned the old lady she worked for. Why? Because the woman had naively revealed that Louisa was the sole beneficiary of her will.\n\nIn another case, a woman named Mary Wilson killed not one but two former husbands using Rodine rat poison. She'd actually killed two more with beetle poison before switching to phosphorus, and even joked at her fourth wedding that the left-over sandwiches would still be fresh enough for her groom's funeral. Unfortunately, her change of tactic didn't work out. The burials created an anaerobic environment, which preserved the phosphorus. So, when her third and fourth husbands were exhumed, traces of the poison could still be identified.\n\nFortunately, not every poisoner was successful. For example, one man narrowly avoided a similar fate to Wilson's husbands when, as he carried his soup from the kitchen, he noticed it glowing in the dark. Eventually, in 1963, Rodine was officially banned. Not to prevent the murders but as part of the Animal Cruel Poisons Act.\n\nUnfortunately, this wasn't the end of deaths by white phosphorus, and when adopted by the military, they'd get so much worse.\n\n## Willie Pete\n\nThe first factory-made white phosphorus weapons were created in the First World War by the British Army, who added the substance to grenades. America and Japan soon followed suit, and by World War II, a number of deadly options were available, including mortar bombs, shells, rockets, and grenades. They were nicknamed Willie Pete, or William Peter, for the initials WP. Latex was also added, which created huge billowing clouds of opaque white smoke.\n\nThe main goal of these first weapons wasn't necessarily to kill, it was to produce as much smoke as possible. This served a few purposes.\n\nFirstly, white phosphorus creates an incredibly effective smoke screen. By deploying it, aggressors can temporarily blind opponents, allowing them to approach without receiving fire and therefore attack at a shorter range. The U.S. found this invaluable against German Panther tanks, which could withstand U.S. armour-piercing rounds at a distance but not at close range. It's also incredibly effective at obstructing infrared vision and weapons tracking systems.\n\nAnother useful feature is that the smoke is a respiratory irritant, so inhalation can induce coughing and pain. This means that when it's fired into a concentration of enemy troops, they'll panic and scatter, trying to escape the toxic cloud. This was an effective tactic used by allied soldiers against attacking German troops towards the end of WWII.\n\nOf course, this isn't to say the smoke doesn't kill. Exposure is toxic, and inhaling enough can induce liver damage and organ failure; in a confined space, it can suffocate. This was a particularly horrendous tactic employed by the U.S. in Vietnam. They'd fire white phosphorus into the Viet Cong tunnels, and as it burned, it'd consume all the oxygen and suffocate the men hiding inside.\n\nHowever, none of this is why the weapons are truly feared.\n\n## Burning to the Bone\n\nThe real horror of white phosphorus is the burning. At 1300°C a single fragment can sear through skin, flesh, muscle, and tunnel all the way to the bone. It's also sticky and nearly impossible to remove once it comes into contact with skin. In the military, soldiers are advised to dig out particles with a knife as quickly as possible.\n\nIf it remains in the flesh, it will continue to burn and can only be extinguished by removing the oxygen source. This is usually done by covering the wound in water or mud. Horrifically, though, as soon as either is removed, the phosphorus can spontaneously reignite, sometimes weeks later.\n\nThis means that medical personnel have to be incredibly careful when dealing with phosphorus patients, as smoke and flames have been known to leap from wounds when bandages are removed.\n\nFor example, in 2009, Israeli forces utilized white phosphorus shells in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and civilians were caught up in the attack. One 18-year-old received severe burns as particles of phosphorus embedded themselves in his skin. At the hospital, nurses uncovered the wounds to find they were emitting white smoke. When they attempted to clean the area, a particle of phosphorus was dislodged and burned a nurse's neck.\n\nThe Abu Halima family suffered the worst of the Gaza attack, though. While sheltering at home, 3 shells filled with white phosphorus crashed through the roof, and the house was engulfed in flames that couldn't be extinguished.\n\nOf the 12 family members, 7 were able to escape, badly injured, and 5 tragically perished. Those that could, rushed outside for help but received none. \"We cried and shouted and called out to neighbours to help us, but no one could come near and save us because the Israeli army was about 100 meters away and shooting at anyone who approached.\"\n\nThe mother, Sabah, who'd been nursing her infant daughter at the time, later described what happened. \"Everything caught fire. My husband and four of my children burned alive in front of my eyes; my baby girl... my only girl, melted in my arms. How can a mother have to see her children burn alive? I couldn't save them. I couldn't help them.\"\n\n## Systemic Toxicity\n\nWhen dealing with burn victims, a vital measure is the total body surface area affected (TBSA). Typically, a 5% TBSA burn won't need hospitalisation; burns of up to 15% will need to be admitted for treatment; and burns of over 15% can induce kidney or multiple organ failure and will require intensive care.\n\nIn the same Gaza attack, Sabah's daughter-in-law, 21-year-old Ghada, was badly burned. Speaking from the hospital, she described her experience: \"I ripped the clothes off my body and cried out that I was burning. I was naked in front of everybody in the house. The pain was excruciating. I could smell my flesh burning. My whole body was burned.\"\n\nShe survived for 3 months and was treated with debridement surgery, wound disinfection, and skin grafts. But, sadly, she didn't make it. Her husband later reported that \"a chain interaction had been triggered in her body by the white phosphorus, shutting down her cells.\"\n\nThis happens because white phosphorus is incredibly fat-soluble and, therefore, easily absorbed through the skin. If enough enters the body, it triggers systemic toxicity, which occurs in three phases.\n\nThe symptoms of phase 1 are gastrointestinal. So patients will experience vomiting and diarrhoea. Occasionally, they may also go into shock, which can be fatal and kill within 48 hours.\n\nDuring phase 2, patients will become asymptomatic for between 8 hours and 3 days. At this time, they may think the worst has passed, and that they'll survive the ordeal.\n\nUnfortunately, though, 4 to 8 days later, many will enter phase 3. This is when the toxins have inflicted significant central nervous system injury and have induced multi-organ failure. The likely outcome, at this point, is death.\n\n## The Story of Razia\n\nTreatment of white phosphorus patients is incredibly difficult and usually complicated by the lack of doctors and medical resources in the active war zones where it's deployed. However, occasionally it's possible to save patients, even when they have extensive burns.\n\nRazia, an 8-year-old girl in Afghanistan, was struck by white phosphorus in her home outside Kabul in 2009. She received burns on 40-45% of her body, including her head and face. Her father reported that as she ran to him, engulfed in flames, he held her tightly, then, as he lifted his hand, the top of her scalp and part of her face peeled off like a mask.\n\nHe took her to an Afghan Army base as fast as he could, but they couldn't treat her, so she was taken to a French base and then a US one in search of help. All the while, he poured water on her face to keep her conscious.\n\nWhen the US medical team finally began treatment, they fitted her with an oxygen mask. But as her face and throat were still full of phosphorus, it reignited on contact with the oxygen, and the mask melted. When they tried to scrape off her burned flesh, flames leapt from her wounds. And, as a nurse tried to clean her, a piece of her ear came away in her hand.\n\nMiraculously, Razia survived and began the long and gruelling process of healing. She had to undergo multiple skin grafts and required so many that they had to wait for her donor sites to heal in between. Her movement was severely restricted. She couldn't move her mouth to eat and had to roll her eyes downward to sleep as she couldn't close them.\n\nEventually, after 3 months, she was released, but she still suffered severe pain and had extensive scarring. She'd also lost all of her hair, which will never regrow. Devastatingly, her father cannot afford either plastic surgery or counselling for Razia, and neither the US, French, nor Taliban militants will admit responsibility, but both had used white phosphorus in the area.\n\n## Is Using White Phosphorus a War Crime?\n\nHearing these harrowing stories, it's hard to believe that white phosphorus isn't banned and considered a war crime. However, due to its usefulness as a smoke screen, it's been able to slip through the net of regulations.\n\nAs it stands, Article 1 of Protocol III in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons defines an incendiary weapon as \"any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of flame, heat, or combination thereof.\" Article 2 bans the use of any of these weapons against civilians or in areas with high civilian concentrations.\n\nThis means various military organisations can argue that, as long as they're using white phosphorus as a smoke screen and not to intentionally kill people, they're on the right side of the law.\n\nFor example, in 2004, the U.S. were accused of using white phosphorus during the first battle of Fallujah as 50,000 civilians sought shelter in the city. Initially, they denied it as they'd known there was a high concentration of civilians. Eventually, though, they conceded that, yes, they had used it, but only for masking and screening purposes, which was legitimate. This didn't go far enough for the multiple eyewitnesses who insisted they'd deployed it as an incendiary weapon. But the U.S. wouldn't budge.\n\nThen, in 2005, they outed themselves in their own army journal, \"Field Artillery,\" which read, \"White Phosphorus proved to be an effective and versatile munition and as a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes. We fired 'shake and bake' missions at the insurgents, using WP to flush them out and high explosives to take them out.\"\n\nThis was not legitimate use and, tragically, it's estimated that up to 6,000 were killed in the attacks, most of whom were civilians. Later in 2005, an Italian documentary entitled *Fallujah, The Hidden Massacre* was released exposing the devastating atrocities, and one Marine who fought in the battle reported, \"I heard the order to pay attention because they were going to use white phosphorus on Fallujah… Phosphorus burns bodies. In fact, it melts the flesh all the way down to the bone… I saw the burned bodies of women and children.\"\n\nTo many, this proves that white phosphorus was used as an offensive weapon by the U.S. and amounts to a war crime.\n\nHuman Rights Watch has repeatedly tried to highlight the devastating impacts of the substance and to close the gaps in Protocol 3. Unfortunately, they've been blocked at every turn, notably by the U.S. and Russia, who want to reserve the right to use it as a smoke screen despite non-deadly alternatives being available.\n\nAs the use of White Phosphorus continues, so does the pain of its victims. As Sabah, who lost her baby girl, told Amnesty International, \"I was on fire. Now, I am still burning all over.\"\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n- White phosphorus was discovered by accident in the 17th century by an alchemist attempting to create gold.\n- White phosphorus is highly toxic and can cause severe burns, organ failure, and death.\n- Military organizations use white phosphorus for smoke screens and psychological warfare, despite its deadly effects.\n- White phosphorus has been used in various conflicts, causing civilian casualties and severe injuries.\n- The use of white phosphorus is not banned as a war crime due to loopholes in regulations.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### What is white phosphorus?\n\nWhite phosphorus is a wax-like chemical substance that ignites upon contact with oxygen, burning fiercely between 800 and 1300°C. It is highly toxic and can cause severe burns, poisoning, and suffocation.\n\n### How was white phosphorus first discovered?\n\nWhite phosphorus was first discovered by alchemist Hennig Brandt in 1669 during his quest to create the philosopher’s stone. He boiled urine and burned the residue, producing phosphorus gas which, when condensed underwater, formed a glow-in-the-dark wax.\n\n### What are the historical uses of white phosphorus?\n\nHistorically, white phosphorus was used in matches, known as 'Lucifer' matches, which caused a condition called 'phossy jaw' in those who produced them. It was also used as rat poison and in murder plots due to its toxicity.\n\n### How has white phosphorus been used in warfare?\n\nWhite phosphorus has been used in warfare since the First World War, added to grenades, mortar bombs, shells, rockets, and other munitions. It creates effective smoke screens and can cause severe burns and suffocation.\n\n### What are the effects of white phosphorus burns?\n\nWhite phosphorus burns can sear through skin, flesh, muscle, and tunnel to the bone. The burns are sticky and nearly impossible to remove, continuing to burn until the phosphorus is exhausted or starved of oxygen.\n\n### Is the use of white phosphorus considered a war crime?\n\nThe use of white phosphorus is not explicitly banned as a war crime due to a loophole in regulations. Military organizations argue that it can be used as a smoke screen rather than an incendiary weapon, allowing its continued use.\n\n### What are the systemic effects of white phosphorus poisoning?\n\nWhite phosphorus poisoning occurs in three phases: initial gastrointestinal symptoms, a brief asymptomatic period, followed by central nervous system injury and multi-organ failure, often leading to death.\n\n### What is the story of Razia, an 8-year-old girl affected by white phosphorus?\n\nRazia, an 8-year-old girl in Afghanistan, was struck by white phosphorus in her home outside Kabul in 2009. She suffered burns on 40-45% of her body and underwent multiple skin grafts and surgeries. She survived but suffered severe pain and scarring.\n\n### What happened during the Gaza attack involving white phosphorus?\n\nIn 2009, Israeli forces used white phosphorus shells in the Gaza Strip, causing severe burns and deaths among civilians. The Abu Halima family suffered the worst, with five members perishing and others severely injured.\n\n### What is the legal status of white phosphorus under international law?\n\nUnder Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, white phosphorus is defined as an incendiary weapon. Its use against civilians or in areas with high civilian concentrations is banned, but military organizations argue its use as a smoke screen is legitimate.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [Original Into the Shadows video: Wars Most Horrific Weapon...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV2VurgIhtw)\n- [Hero image source](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Southend-on-Sea_War_Memorial_-_soldier_from_south_in_April_2023_01.jpg) by Chris McKenna / openverse, by-sa.\n\n## Related Coverage" url: https://intotheshadows.pub/article/wars-most-horrific-weapon-white-phosphorus.md canonical: https://intotheshadows.pub/article/wars-most-horrific-weapon-white-phosphorus datePublished: 2026-06-28 dateModified: 2026-06-28 author: - name: Simon Whistler url: https://intotheshadows.pub/author/simon-whistler publisher: Into the Shadows image: "https://media.intotheshadows.pub/cdn-cgi/image/width=1600,height=900,fit=cover,quality=80,format=auto/articles/sV2VurgIhtw/hero.jpg" type: Article contentHash: 55b728397d125d153837f136861384e4df4253fe14522e205b09c213ae7f36cd tokens: 5074 summaryUrl: https://intotheshadows.pub/article/wars-most-horrific-weapon-white-phosphorus.md.summary.md --- In the 15th century, a German man had the bright idea to boil vats of urine in an attempt to make gold. Unfortunately, what he created doesn't make people rich. It suffocates, poisons, and burns to the bone. White phosphorus is a substance that inflicts terror in anyone who knows enough about it. It can't be extinguished and will tunnel through flesh until it's exhausted. Even then, it can enter the body and kill the liver. Victims are easy to identify because their wounds will smoulder, their intestines may glow in the dark, and if they're unfortunate enough to consume it, their stools can give off smoke. Hearing this, you might think it'd be a war crime to launch it into a city. But, thanks to a loophole in the regulations, it's not, and military organisations continue to use it to this day. ## Turning Urine into a Deadly Weapon White phosphorus is a wax-like chemical substance that is pyrophoric, meaning it ignites upon contact with oxygen. Once alight, it burns fiercely between 800 and 1300°C and can't be extinguished until the phosphorus has been exhausted or it's starved of oxygen. It was first discovered by alchemist Hennig Brandt in 1669 in his quest to create the philosopher's stone, an imagined artefact with the ability to turn cheap metals into gold. In one of his failed experiments, he boiled urine and then burned the residue that formed. This produced phosphorus gas, which, when condensed underwater, formed an eerie, glow-in-the-dark wax. After Hennig had determined that his creation wasn't going to make him any gold, he sold the instructions to a friend for 200 thalers (£1,000 in today's money). As word got out about the incredible new substance, various other chemists began to develop their own recipes, cooking dung, bone ash, and even brain matter. Today, white phosphorus is manufactured using the much more palatable technique of heating phosphate rock in the presence of carbon and silica. ## Murder by Phosphorus Unsurprisingly for a substance that can spontaneously combust and glows green at night, white phosphorus can kill you in numerous ways, each more terrifying than the last. At first, though, no one considered this new chemical dangerous, and pharmacists started selling phosphorus-laced "luminous pills" to treat gout and asthma and improve intelligence. Fortunately for most of their customers, the phosphorus was oxidising into harmless phosphate in between manufacture and ingestion, so not too many died. Then, in 1831, Charles Sauria had the bright idea of using white phosphorus in matches as an ignition agent, and that's when the deaths started ramping up. The first victims were the men producing the phosphorus and the women making these "Lucifer" matches. Little did they know phosphorus vapour is incredibly toxic, and repeated inhalation can cause a condition known as "phossy jaw," which is a cute name for the bones of the jaw dissolving inside your face. In the best cases, sufferers experienced tooth loss, abscesses, and disfigurement. In 20% of cases, they died. As soon as people finally figured out that white phosphorus shouldn't be ingested, they started using it as rat poison, and it was very effective. When consumed or absorbed into the bloodstream, the substance attacks the kidneys, liver and heart. This causes the liver to swell and induces vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, multiple organ failure, and an incredibly painful death in both rodents and humans. With a brand new poison on the market, available as both soluble matches and an easy-to-consume bran-based rat killer, murderers were the next to embrace white phosphorus. A popular method was to soak match heads in brandy or wine. Initially, this concoction was invented to induce abortions and as a male aphrodisiac. But, when 90% of drinkers died, it was soon picked up as an easy way to kill someone. Fortunately, white phosphorus matches were finally banned in 1906. Not because they'd become a weapon for murder, but due to public outrage surrounding the suffering of the ex-match girls who were now struggling to survive without their jaw bones. With Lucifers off the table, people started hiding the phosphorus-based rat poison, Rodine, in their victims' food. In fact, the MO became so popular that Agatha Christie used phosphorus in "Dumb Witness," where the victim was found dead and glowing from the mouth after a seance. Rat poisoning gained particular popularity in the north of England, which experienced an outbreak of so-called "Rodine murders" throughout the 1950s. In one example, straight out of a clichéd murder mystery, a housekeeper named Louisa Merrifield poisoned the old lady she worked for. Why? Because the woman had naively revealed that Louisa was the sole beneficiary of her will. In another case, a woman named Mary Wilson killed not one but two former husbands using Rodine rat poison. She'd actually killed two more with beetle poison before switching to phosphorus, and even joked at her fourth wedding that the left-over sandwiches would still be fresh enough for her groom's funeral. Unfortunately, her change of tactic didn't work out. The burials created an anaerobic environment, which preserved the phosphorus. So, when her third and fourth husbands were exhumed, traces of the poison could still be identified. Fortunately, not every poisoner was successful. For example, one man narrowly avoided a similar fate to Wilson's husbands when, as he carried his soup from the kitchen, he noticed it glowing in the dark. Eventually, in 1963, Rodine was officially banned. Not to prevent the murders but as part of the Animal Cruel Poisons Act. Unfortunately, this wasn't the end of deaths by white phosphorus, and when adopted by the military, they'd get so much worse. ## Willie Pete The first factory-made white phosphorus weapons were created in the First World War by the British Army, who added the substance to grenades. America and Japan soon followed suit, and by World War II, a number of deadly options were available, including mortar bombs, shells, rockets, and grenades. They were nicknamed Willie Pete, or William Peter, for the initials WP. Latex was also added, which created huge billowing clouds of opaque white smoke. The main goal of these first weapons wasn't necessarily to kill, it was to produce as much smoke as possible. This served a few purposes. Firstly, white phosphorus creates an incredibly effective smoke screen. By deploying it, aggressors can temporarily blind opponents, allowing them to approach without receiving fire and therefore attack at a shorter range. The U.S. found this invaluable against German Panther tanks, which could withstand U.S. armour-piercing rounds at a distance but not at close range. It's also incredibly effective at obstructing infrared vision and weapons tracking systems. Another useful feature is that the smoke is a respiratory irritant, so inhalation can induce coughing and pain. This means that when it's fired into a concentration of enemy troops, they'll panic and scatter, trying to escape the toxic cloud. This was an effective tactic used by allied soldiers against attacking German troops towards the end of WWII. Of course, this isn't to say the smoke doesn't kill. Exposure is toxic, and inhaling enough can induce liver damage and organ failure; in a confined space, it can suffocate. This was a particularly horrendous tactic employed by the U.S. in Vietnam. They'd fire white phosphorus into the Viet Cong tunnels, and as it burned, it'd consume all the oxygen and suffocate the men hiding inside. However, none of this is why the weapons are truly feared. ## Burning to the Bone The real horror of white phosphorus is the burning. At 1300°C a single fragment can sear through skin, flesh, muscle, and tunnel all the way to the bone. It's also sticky and nearly impossible to remove once it comes into contact with skin. In the military, soldiers are advised to dig out particles with a knife as quickly as possible. If it remains in the flesh, it will continue to burn and can only be extinguished by removing the oxygen source. This is usually done by covering the wound in water or mud. Horrifically, though, as soon as either is removed, the phosphorus can spontaneously reignite, sometimes weeks later. This means that medical personnel have to be incredibly careful when dealing with phosphorus patients, as smoke and flames have been known to leap from wounds when bandages are removed. For example, in 2009, Israeli forces utilized white phosphorus shells in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and civilians were caught up in the attack. One 18-year-old received severe burns as particles of phosphorus embedded themselves in his skin. At the hospital, nurses uncovered the wounds to find they were emitting white smoke. When they attempted to clean the area, a particle of phosphorus was dislodged and burned a nurse's neck. The Abu Halima family suffered the worst of the Gaza attack, though. While sheltering at home, 3 shells filled with white phosphorus crashed through the roof, and the house was engulfed in flames that couldn't be extinguished. Of the 12 family members, 7 were able to escape, badly injured, and 5 tragically perished. Those that could, rushed outside for help but received none. "We cried and shouted and called out to neighbours to help us, but no one could come near and save us because the Israeli army was about 100 meters away and shooting at anyone who approached." The mother, Sabah, who'd been nursing her infant daughter at the time, later described what happened. "Everything caught fire. My husband and four of my children burned alive in front of my eyes; my baby girl... my only girl, melted in my arms. How can a mother have to see her children burn alive? I couldn't save them. I couldn't help them." ## Systemic Toxicity When dealing with burn victims, a vital measure is the total body surface area affected (TBSA). Typically, a 5% TBSA burn won't need hospitalisation; burns of up to 15% will need to be admitted for treatment; and burns of over 15% can induce kidney or multiple organ failure and will require intensive care. In the same Gaza attack, Sabah's daughter-in-law, 21-year-old Ghada, was badly burned. Speaking from the hospital, she described her experience: "I ripped the clothes off my body and cried out that I was burning. I was naked in front of everybody in the house. The pain was excruciating. I could smell my flesh burning. My whole body was burned." She survived for 3 months and was treated with debridement surgery, wound disinfection, and skin grafts. But, sadly, she didn't make it. Her husband later reported that "a chain interaction had been triggered in her body by the white phosphorus, shutting down her cells." This happens because white phosphorus is incredibly fat-soluble and, therefore, easily absorbed through the skin. If enough enters the body, it triggers systemic toxicity, which occurs in three phases. The symptoms of phase 1 are gastrointestinal. So patients will experience vomiting and diarrhoea. Occasionally, they may also go into shock, which can be fatal and kill within 48 hours. During phase 2, patients will become asymptomatic for between 8 hours and 3 days. At this time, they may think the worst has passed, and that they'll survive the ordeal. Unfortunately, though, 4 to 8 days later, many will enter phase 3. This is when the toxins have inflicted significant central nervous system injury and have induced multi-organ failure. The likely outcome, at this point, is death. ## The Story of Razia Treatment of white phosphorus patients is incredibly difficult and usually complicated by the lack of doctors and medical resources in the active war zones where it's deployed. However, occasionally it's possible to save patients, even when they have extensive burns. Razia, an 8-year-old girl in Afghanistan, was struck by white phosphorus in her home outside Kabul in 2009. She received burns on 40-45% of her body, including her head and face. Her father reported that as she ran to him, engulfed in flames, he held her tightly, then, as he lifted his hand, the top of her scalp and part of her face peeled off like a mask. He took her to an Afghan Army base as fast as he could, but they couldn't treat her, so she was taken to a French base and then a US one in search of help. All the while, he poured water on her face to keep her conscious. When the US medical team finally began treatment, they fitted her with an oxygen mask. But as her face and throat were still full of phosphorus, it reignited on contact with the oxygen, and the mask melted. When they tried to scrape off her burned flesh, flames leapt from her wounds. And, as a nurse tried to clean her, a piece of her ear came away in her hand. Miraculously, Razia survived and began the long and gruelling process of healing. She had to undergo multiple skin grafts and required so many that they had to wait for her donor sites to heal in between. Her movement was severely restricted. She couldn't move her mouth to eat and had to roll her eyes downward to sleep as she couldn't close them. Eventually, after 3 months, she was released, but she still suffered severe pain and had extensive scarring. She'd also lost all of her hair, which will never regrow. Devastatingly, her father cannot afford either plastic surgery or counselling for Razia, and neither the US, French, nor Taliban militants will admit responsibility, but both had used white phosphorus in the area. ## Is Using White Phosphorus a War Crime? Hearing these harrowing stories, it's hard to believe that white phosphorus isn't banned and considered a war crime. However, due to its usefulness as a smoke screen, it's been able to slip through the net of regulations. As it stands, Article 1 of Protocol III in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons defines an incendiary weapon as "any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of flame, heat, or combination thereof." Article 2 bans the use of any of these weapons against civilians or in areas with high civilian concentrations. This means various military organisations can argue that, as long as they're using white phosphorus as a smoke screen and not to intentionally kill people, they're on the right side of the law. For example, in 2004, the U.S. were accused of using white phosphorus during the first battle of Fallujah as 50,000 civilians sought shelter in the city. Initially, they denied it as they'd known there was a high concentration of civilians. Eventually, though, they conceded that, yes, they had used it, but only for masking and screening purposes, which was legitimate. This didn't go far enough for the multiple eyewitnesses who insisted they'd deployed it as an incendiary weapon. But the U.S. wouldn't budge. Then, in 2005, they outed themselves in their own army journal, "Field Artillery," which read, "White Phosphorus proved to be an effective and versatile munition and as a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes. We fired 'shake and bake' missions at the insurgents, using WP to flush them out and high explosives to take them out." This was not legitimate use and, tragically, it's estimated that up to 6,000 were killed in the attacks, most of whom were civilians. Later in 2005, an Italian documentary entitled *Fallujah, The Hidden Massacre* was released exposing the devastating atrocities, and one Marine who fought in the battle reported, "I heard the order to pay attention because they were going to use white phosphorus on Fallujah… Phosphorus burns bodies. In fact, it melts the flesh all the way down to the bone… I saw the burned bodies of women and children." To many, this proves that white phosphorus was used as an offensive weapon by the U.S. and amounts to a war crime. Human Rights Watch has repeatedly tried to highlight the devastating impacts of the substance and to close the gaps in Protocol 3. Unfortunately, they've been blocked at every turn, notably by the U.S. and Russia, who want to reserve the right to use it as a smoke screen despite non-deadly alternatives being available. As the use of White Phosphorus continues, so does the pain of its victims. As Sabah, who lost her baby girl, told Amnesty International, "I was on fire. Now, I am still burning all over." ## Key Takeaways - White phosphorus was discovered by accident in the 17th century by an alchemist attempting to create gold. - White phosphorus is highly toxic and can cause severe burns, organ failure, and death. - Military organizations use white phosphorus for smoke screens and psychological warfare, despite its deadly effects. - White phosphorus has been used in various conflicts, causing civilian casualties and severe injuries. - The use of white phosphorus is not banned as a war crime due to loopholes in regulations. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is white phosphorus? White phosphorus is a wax-like chemical substance that ignites upon contact with oxygen, burning fiercely between 800 and 1300°C. It is highly toxic and can cause severe burns, poisoning, and suffocation. ### How was white phosphorus first discovered? White phosphorus was first discovered by alchemist Hennig Brandt in 1669 during his quest to create the philosopher’s stone. He boiled urine and burned the residue, producing phosphorus gas which, when condensed underwater, formed a glow-in-the-dark wax. ### What are the historical uses of white phosphorus? Historically, white phosphorus was used in matches, known as 'Lucifer' matches, which caused a condition called 'phossy jaw' in those who produced them. It was also used as rat poison and in murder plots due to its toxicity. ### How has white phosphorus been used in warfare? White phosphorus has been used in warfare since the First World War, added to grenades, mortar bombs, shells, rockets, and other munitions. It creates effective smoke screens and can cause severe burns and suffocation. ### What are the effects of white phosphorus burns? White phosphorus burns can sear through skin, flesh, muscle, and tunnel to the bone. The burns are sticky and nearly impossible to remove, continuing to burn until the phosphorus is exhausted or starved of oxygen. ### Is the use of white phosphorus considered a war crime? The use of white phosphorus is not explicitly banned as a war crime due to a loophole in regulations. Military organizations argue that it can be used as a smoke screen rather than an incendiary weapon, allowing its continued use. ### What are the systemic effects of white phosphorus poisoning? White phosphorus poisoning occurs in three phases: initial gastrointestinal symptoms, a brief asymptomatic period, followed by central nervous system injury and multi-organ failure, often leading to death. ### What is the story of Razia, an 8-year-old girl affected by white phosphorus? Razia, an 8-year-old girl in Afghanistan, was struck by white phosphorus in her home outside Kabul in 2009. She suffered burns on 40-45% of her body and underwent multiple skin grafts and surgeries. She survived but suffered severe pain and scarring. ### What happened during the Gaza attack involving white phosphorus? In 2009, Israeli forces used white phosphorus shells in the Gaza Strip, causing severe burns and deaths among civilians. The Abu Halima family suffered the worst, with five members perishing and others severely injured. ### What is the legal status of white phosphorus under international law? Under Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, white phosphorus is defined as an incendiary weapon. Its use against civilians or in areas with high civilian concentrations is banned, but military organizations argue its use as a smoke screen is legitimate. ## Sources - [Original Into the Shadows video: Wars Most Horrific Weapon...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV2VurgIhtw) - [Hero image source](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Southend-on-Sea_War_Memorial_-_soldier_from_south_in_April_2023_01.jpg) by Chris McKenna / openverse, by-sa. ## Related Coverage