Update on PhosphorusI linked to an article a few days ago on the use of Phosphorous in Fallujah, which an Italian TV report had claimed resulted in much death and injury.
Jeff Goldstein and some other bloggers/commenters looked into it and discovered that the effects claimed were greatly exaggerated.
When RP (-ed. red phosphorus) is oxidized, it forms a mixture of phosphorus acids. When these acids are exposed to water vapor, they in turn form polyphosphoric acids, which may be responsible for the toxic injuries to the upper airways. Most of these injuries are mild irritations. No human deaths have been reported from exposure to either white phosphorous or RP smokes. (emphasis added)
