By Eliza Popova
Yellow phosphorus began to be actively used in ammunition and incendiary mixtures during the First World War, in particular in incendiary bombs and artillery shells, because it burns at high temperatures and is difficult to extinguish. But this is not the most important thing. . . Yellow phosphorus is one of the most dangerous industrial poisons. If vapors are inhaled, it causes damage to the liver, kidneys, and bones. In case of ingestion - burns of the gastrointestinal tract, severe pain, death.
Prolonged contact causes necrosis of the jaw bones. When ignited, it causes deep chemical burns — phosphorus continues to burn in the body until it is isolated from the air.
At the international legal level, there is no absolute ban on the use of such means today, but, for example, Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW, 1980) - directly prohibits aerial incendiary attacks on populations and introduces restrictions on other types of use of incendiary means, as well as the general principles of international humanitarian law (IHL) - the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks. . .
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