Fireworks containing phosphorus

The presence of protein, albumin, and acetone in the urine and increases in blood levels of urea nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, and creatinine have been observed in individuals acutely ingesting rat (or roach) poisons or fireworks containing white phosphorus (Dathe and Nathan 1946 Diaz-Rivera et al. 1950 Dwyer and Helwig 1925 Fletcher and Galambos 1963 Matsumoto et al. 1972 McCarron et al. 1981 Newburger et al. 1948 Pietras et al. 1968 Rao... 

Chlorates are useful oxidizing agents. Potassium chlorate is used as an oxidant in fireworks and in matches. The heads of safety matches consist of a paste of potassium chlorate, antimony sulfide, and sulfur, with powdered glass to create friction when the match is struck as mentioned in Section 15.1, the striking strip contains red phosphorus, which ignites the match head. 

Applications of Sulphur.--Much sulphur is consumed in the manufacture of matches, being applied in the form of phosphorus sulphide as a constituent of the heads of common friction matches, whilst on the Continent the wooden splints have frequently been treated with sulphur to facilitate the passage of the flame from the bend to the remainder of the match. Large quantities of sulphur are also required for the production of gunpowder and fireworks for these purposes finely divided sulphur is necessary, but u flowers of sulphur is not suitable on account of its liability to contain tract s of sulphuric acid, due to atmospheric oxidation, which would render its use dangerous. 

Most known cases of fatal or severe exposure to white phosphorus resulted from adults or children accidentally or deliberately swallowing rat poisons or fireworks or handling munitions containing white phosphorus. Other known instances of severe exposure of workers were a result of accidents in white... 

Renal Effects. Evidence of severe renal effects have been observed in a number of individuals intentionally or accidentally ingesting a single dose of white phosphorus contained in rat (or roach) poison or fireworks. Proteinuria (Matsumoto et al. 1972 ... 

White phosphorus is highly toxic. People have attempted suicide by ingesting matches, fireworks, roach poison, or rat poison containing white phosphorus. Unless emergency poison treatments are applied within 2-3 hours, death is likely. Animal data are consistent with human data after acute oral exposure. Further, a life-threatening condition called phossy jaw has been described following intermediate or chronic occupational exposure to white phosphorus. 

Other systemic effects have been observed in a small number of individuals intentionally or accidentally ingesting white phosphorus containing poison or firework. Some of these effects, such as fatty infiltration of the pancreas (Humphreys and Halpert 1931), splenomegaly (Greenberger et al. 1964), and necrosis of the adrenal medulla and cortex (Wechsler and Wechsler 1951), are consistent with effects that have been widely reported in... 

Generally firework compositions which contain potassium chlorate, perchlorate or ammonium perchlorate as oxidizer will detonate from a strong mechanical initiation, especially when the composition are in the powdered state.Potassium chlorate or other chlorate, red phosphorus, realgar, sulphur, antimony trisulfide etc. promote the inclination. On the contrary, potassium nitrate or other nitrates decrease it. Black powder is not likely to detonate. 

B) includes noise compositions which are quite sensitive and snake compositions which exhibit curious phenomena, etc. It can be seen from the diagram that toy firework compositions, (A+B), are more numerous than those for ordinary fireworks (A). The reason is that, in the case of toy fireworks it is possible to increase the safety of the compositions to a high degree by complete division and isolation. Following this principle even some sensitive compositions which are never used for shells, exhibition fireworks etc. can be used for toy fireworks. For example, a composition which contains potassium chlorate and red phosphorus is used for pistol caps or another compositon which contains potassium chlorate and realgar is used for cracker balls. These compositions are generally used only for toy fireworks. 

Fernandez, O.U.B., Canlzares, L.L. Acute hepatotoxicity from ingestion of yellow phosphorus-containing fireworks. J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 1995 ... 

Elemental sulfur is mainly used (ca. 85 to 90%) in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. It is also utilized in the production of sulfur dioxide, carbon disulfide, phosphorus(V) sulfide, thiosulfates and sulfur dyes, sulfur-containing putty, gunpowder and fireworks, sulfur concrete, slow release fertilizers and pharmaceuticals and as a rubber vulcanization agent. 

Little information is available about the health effects that may be caused by white phosphorus. Most of what is known about the effects of breathing white phosphorus is from studies of workers. Most of what is known about the effects of eating white phosphorus is from reports of people eating rat poison or fireworks that contained it. 

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