Posty...teh WP in smoke bombs causes smoke...the smoke itself isn't WP.
white phosphorus a type of explosive round from artillery, mortars, or rockets. Also a type of aerial bomb. The rounds exploded with a huge puff of white smoke from the hotly burning phosphorus, and were used as marking rounds or incendiary rounds.
When white phosphorus hit the skin of a living creature it continued to burn until it had burned through the body. Water would not extinguish it.
First aid and Toxicity
Burns to persons struck by particles of burning WP are usually much less extensive than
napalm or metal incendiary burns, but are complicated by the toxicity of phosphorus (50 mg being the average lethal dose,
LD50), the release of phosphoric acid into the wounds, and the possibility of small particles continuing to smoulder for some time if undetected.
The most immediate concern is to exclude air from wounds so as to extinguish any remaining burning particles—while the first aider takes care not to touch the WP particles. Usually, this is mostly practicably achieved by cutting off contaminated clothing and dumping it in a fire resistant contaminated waste bin, and applying soaked compresses to the wounds. Ideally the compresses should be soaked in a mild
sodium bicarbonate solution to
neutralise phosphoric acid. If the patient is to be transported, sufficient water must be provided to keep the bandages wet at all times.
As soon as practicable, remaining particles must be removed from the wounds. This is done by underwater debridement of burnt areas with tweezers or a blunt metal spatula. If available, irrigation with a fresh 1% solution of
copper sulphate is advantageous as it reacts with any remaining phosphorus particles, coating them with a layer of
copper phosphide. (This very dark material is easier to see, and also fluoresces under
ultraviolet light, if available. Furthermore it provides a relatively inert coating.) Care must be taken to only irrigate briefly, however, and thoroughly rinse away the solution afterward, or there is a risk of copper poisoning through the wounds. If copper sulphate is not available, inspection of the wounds in a darkened room may reveal any missed pieces through phosphorescence.
Subsequently treat as for a burn, but seek expert medical advice to treat phosphorus poisoning. Avoid oily ointments until it is certain all phosphorus has been removed.
Afterward, ensure all particles of WP and contaminated clothing are decontaminated by incineration.
Finally
Use of white phosphorus is not specifically banned by any treaty, however the 1980
Convention on Conventional Weapons (Protocol III) prohibits the use of incendiary weapons against civilian populations or by air attack against military forces that are located within concentrations of civilians.
[2] The United States is among the nations that are parties to the convention but have not signed protocol III.
