Inorganic phosphorus poisoning

Phosphorus has a wide range of uses. It is used in the manufacture of matches, fireworks, firecrackers, signal flares, certain synthetic dyes, artificial phosphate fertilizers, insecticides, rodenticides, and medicinal drugs. The head composition of old-style matches contained yellow phosphorus, which is highly toxic. Currently produced household match head compositions contain no phosphorus, but the side composition of some matchboxes contains about 40% red phosphorus. The head composition of strike-anywhere phosphorus sesquisulfide matches contains about 10% phosphorus sesquisulfide (P4S3), which is toxic.