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<h1><b>Special: White Phosphorus and its use in
Gaza</b></h1><font size=3>
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Tuesday January 13, 2009
12:30<img src="http://www.imemc.org/graphics/person.gif" width=14 height=12 alt="author">
by Dr. Mazen Qumssiya - for the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem
– Arij
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<dl>
<dd>White Phosphorus (P4) is a waxy fat soluble colorless or slightly
yellow solid with a garlic smell that is not naturally occurring but is
produced in the laboratory. It is highly reactive with oxygen
(ignites spontaneously upon drying and exposure to air) producing
compounds like P4O6 (phosphorus pentoxide) and P4O10 which upon contact
with water becomes oxophosphoric acids (aslternatively direct reaction
with water can lead to phosphoric acid HPO4 through some intermediate
compounds) <br><br>
</dl><a name="attachment34475"></a>
<img src="http://www.imemc.org/attachments/jan2009/press_tv_images_of_wp_use_in_gaza.jpg" width=320 height=220 alt="Press TV Images of WP use in Gaza">
<a name="attachment34475"></a><br>
Press TV Images of WP use in Gaza<br><br>
These properties have give it both civilian and military uses. Its
civilian uses include production of phosphoric acid and phosphate based
fertilizers. It is used by the military because it interacts with
oxygen producing fire and smoke and can act both as a smokescreen,
marking enemy areas and also to terrorize enemy combatants to leave fox
holes and tunnels into more open areas where standard ammunition can be
used on them. White phosphorous is a member of a class of incendiary
weapons that includes such things as napalm and thermites but also
functions in producing smoke to confuse and destroy the ability of enemy
troops to function. When used as an incendiary weapon it works
directly against personnel producing severe physical and psychological
impacts and also destroys equipment of targeted
troops. <br><br>
Military use and use in Iraq: According to GlobalSecurity.org
(a national security information outlet in the US): “White Phosphorus
(WP), known as Willy Pete, is used for signaling, screening, and
incendiary purposes. White Phosphorus can be used to destroy the enemy's
equipment or to limit his vision. It is used against vehicles, petroleum,
oils and lubricants (POL) and ammunition storage areas, and enemy
observers. WP can be used as an aid in target location and navigation. It
is usually dispersed by explosive munitions. It can be fired with fuze
time to obtain an airburst. White phosphorus was used most often during
World War II in military formulations for smoke screens, marker shells,
incendiaries, hand grenades, smoke markers, colored flares, and tracer
bullets.”
(<a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/wp.htm">
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munition...p.htm</a>
) <br><br>
The US used WP in its wars from Vietnam to Iraq and has defended such use
as legitimate. Initially the US forces claimed that they used WP
just 'to illuminate enemy positions at night, not [directed] at enemy
fighters' but and sent mixed signals about whether it considers it an
incendiary devise or not and whether insurgents are targeted by the
devise or it is merely used as a spectacular light and smoke devise
(<a href="http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/November/20051201140216mvyelwarc0.787594.html">
http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/Novembe....html</a>
). <br><br>
WP was used to 'flush' insurgents out to kill them using other munitions:
'WP proved to be an effective and versatile munition. We used it for
screening missions at two breeches and, later in the fight, as a potent
psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider
holes when we could not get effects on them with HE (High Explosive)
Rounds. We fired ‘shake and bake’ missions at the insurgents, using WP to
flush them out and HE to take them out.' (TF 2-2 IN FSE AAR: Indirect
Fires in the Battle of Fallujah, By Captain James T. Cobb, First
Lieutenant Christopher A. LaCour and Sergeant First Class William H.
Hight, Field Artillery, March-April 2005, pp. 23-28). While
initially denying use of it as an incendiary device against targetted
personnel, the US Pentagon spokesman later admitted to the BBC such use
in Fallujah
(<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stm">
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stm</a>). <br><br>
The same spokesperson explained that 'One technique is to fire a white
phosphorus round into the position because the combined effects of the
fire and smokeand in some case the terror brought about by the explosion
on the groundwill drive them out of the holes so that you can kill them
with high explosives.'
(<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-forces-used-chemical-weapon-in-iraq-515551.html">
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-for....html</a>
) <br><br>
WP use is legal for purposes such as illumination and obscuring smoke,
and the Chemical Weapons Convention does not list WP in its schedules of
chemical weapons. Witnesses and analysis of the battlefield
in Falluja revealed to Italian filmmakers significant effects on the
civilian population. (see documentary
<a href="http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/en/video.asp">
http://www.rainews24.rai.it/ran24/inchiesta/en/video.asp</a>
) <br><br>
Health impact At one point WP was used in rat poison and in
fireworks but modern products do not have it because of potential health
hazards. The US Center for Disease Control states that it is
reported to cause death an injury when inhaled, ingested, or had contact
with the skin (whether after burns or without burning)
<a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf">
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf</a> The US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed white phosphorus as a
“Hazardous Air Pollutant” and requires spills of 1 pound or more to be
reported to the EPA (Center for Disease Control report
<a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts103.html">
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts103.html</a>) <br><br>
White phosphorus burns can be lethal due to absorption of WP from the
burned surface “which may result in multi-organ failure (mainly liver and
kidneys), hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and electrocardiogram (ECG)
abnormalities (ST depression, QT elongation, microvoltage of QRS and
bradycardia) (Bowen TE, Whelan TJ Jr, Nelson TG. 1971. Sudden death after
phosphorus burns: experimental observations of hypocalcemia,
hyperphosphatemia, and electrocardiographic abnormalities following
production of a standard white phosphorus burn. Ann Surg 174:779-784.;
Eldad A. Simon GA. 1991. The phosphorus burn - a preliminary comparative
experimental study of various forms of treatment. Burns 17:198-200.;
cited in CDC document
<a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf">
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf</a>).
<br><br>
Patients who survive for more than a week usually exhibit significant
changes in fat and protein metabolism (including fatty degeneration) and
severe jaundice (Blanke RV. 1970. Toxicology. In: Tietz NW, ed.
Fundamentals of clinical chemistry. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co,
833-889.). When WP burns in the air in conditions of high
oxygen, it generates smoke with an average aerosol mass concentration
between 2,500 and 3,000 mg/m3, with the major components being
polyphosphates, phosphine, and elemental phosphorus (Van Voris P, Cataldo
DA, Ligotke MW, et al. 1987. Evaluate and characterize mechanisms
controlling transport, fate and effects of Army smokes in the aersol wind
tunnel. Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Washington.). Acute
(5-30 minute) exposures to WP smoke caused deaths in experimental rats,
mice, guinea pigs, and goats at concentrations of orthophosphoric acid
and phosphorus pentoxide well below those that occur in military usage
(Brown BJ, Affleck GE, Ferrand RL, et al.. 1980. <br><br>
The acute effects of single exposures to white phosphorus smoke in rats
and guinea pigs. Report No. ARCSL-TR-80013, AD-B051836L; White SA,
Armstrong GC. 1935. White phosphorus smoke: Its irritating concentration
for man and its toxicity for small animals for one-hour exposures.
E.A.T.P. 190, Project A 5.2-l.). These authors documented
congestion, edema, and hemorrhages in the lungs of effected
animals. <br><br>
WP substance is now known to cause what is known as phossy jaws (a
degenerative condition affecting the soft tissue, bones, and teeth of the
oral cavity) which has resulted in deaths due to secondary septicemias
(Ward EF. 1928. Phosphorus necrosis in the manufacture of fireworks.
Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 10:314-330.). There
are scattered studies on effects of WP and WP Smoke on renal,
circulatory, hepatic, and musculoskeletal systems (see
<a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf">
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf</a> )
<br><br>
The third health effect is in the persistence of particles of WP in the
environment . These is obviously more common in combat use of large
amounts in shells as compared to usual spills or pollution from
industrial production WP chunks may be shielded from oxygen (hence
burning) either by falling into water that has little oxygen content or
simply as pieces of solids that can linger in the environment for years
without reacting or as intermediary combustion products (partial
combustion) especially in soils or environments with limited oxygen
content.
(<a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf">
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp103-c2.pdf</a>).
<br><br>
Reports of usage in Gaza: The Los Angeles Times reported
January 12 that 20 homes burnt, one women killed and several injured from
the use of WP in Gaza writing:“One landed in my kitchen and caused a
fire,' said Zohair Mohammed abu Rejila, 35. 'I went to put it out, but
another one landed on Mayar, my baby daughter. It was like a block of
fire, a piece of plastic on fire. When I knocked it off her, it exploded
and out came this heavy white smoke with a very bad smell.'
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-phosphorus12-2009jan12,0,2138761.story">
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg...story</a>
<br><br>
Al-Jazeera TV reported on its use for several days between December
29-January 9 and aired footage of several civilian victims of white
phosphorus bombs showing characteristic burns. One teenage girl,
Jamila Al-Habash, had both of her legs amputated and an interview with
Dr. Raed Al-'Areeny from Al-Shaifa Hospital explained the need for
amutation because of the WP adherence to and reaction with soft tissues
penetrating even to the bones. <br><br>
Footage released also show the characteristic images of shelling in
neighborhoods with WP
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVY4NUKowzg">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVY4NUKowzg</a>
<a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/20....html" eudora="autourl">
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/20....html</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq-b_40IKfs">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq-b_40IKfs</a> On January 12,
2009, Human Rights Watch issued a report demanding Israel stop using WP
(<a href="http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/10/israel-stop-unlawful-use-white-phosphorus-gaza">
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/10/israel-stop-unlaw...-gaza</a>
) <br><br>
Treatment <br><br>
When burning particles of WP attach quickly remove all clothing affected
to prevent skin contact. Use cold water to rinse and extinguish any
areas of skin or clothing effected. Rinising with sodium
bicarbonate solution helps neutralize acids. Emove any visible chunks of
WP using appropriate tools. Clothing or material that has WP should
be discarded in water or allowed to burn in a safe location. Burns
should be covered with moist saline-soaked dressing to prevent
inflammation. Some recommend use of 0.5-2.0% copper sulphate pads
but only for short period of time because of copper toxicity.
<br><br>
Legal Issues <br><br>
The use of WP against civilians was banned in the 1980 convention titled
'Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain
Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or
to Have Indiscriminate Effects' (entered into force in December 1983 and
is an annex to the Geneva Conventions 1949). Israel signed
the convention 22 March 1995 but stated its exclusion of a number of
provisions of the main treaty and has not signed the relevant protocol
III dealing with incendiary weapons such as WP. The most notable
exclusion of the main text was Article 7 paragraph 4 which
reads: <br><br>
Article 7 <br><br>
Treaty relations upon entry into force of this Convention: This
Convention, and the annexed Protocols by which a High Contracting Party
is bound, shall apply with respect to an armed conflict against that High
Contracting Party of the type referred to in Article 1, paragraph 4, of
Additional Protocol 1 to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 for the
Protection of War Victims: <br><br>
(a) Where the High Contracting Party is also a party to Additional
Protocol 1 and an authority referred to in Article 96, paragraph 3, of
that Protocol has under-taken to apply the Geneva Conventions and
Additional Protocol 1 in accord-ance with Article 96, paragraph 3, of the
said Protocol, and undertakes to apply this Convention and the relevant
annexed Protocols in relation to that conflict; or <br><br>
(b) Where the High Contracting Party is not a party to Additional
Protocol 1 and an authority of the type referred to in subparagraph (a)
above accepts and applies the obligations of the Geneva Conventions and
of this Convention and the relevant annexed Protocols in relation to that
conflict. Such an acceptance and application shall have in relation to
that conflict the following effects:
* <br><br>
(i) The Geneva Conventions and this Convention and its relevant annexed
Protocols are brought into force for the parties to the conflict with
immediate effect; <br><br>
(ii) The said authority assumes the same rights and obligations as those
which have been assumed by a High Contracting Party to the Geneva
Conven-tions, this Convention and its relevant annexed Protocols;
and <br><br>
(iii) The Geneva Conventions, this Convention and its relevant
annexed Protocols are equally binding upon all parties to the
conflict. The High Contracting Party and the authority may
also agree to accept and apply the obligations of Additional Protocol 1
to the Geneva Conventions on a reciprocal basis. (Text from
<a href="http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/ccwtreatytext.htm">
http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/ccwtreatytext.htm</a>, Israel's
exclusions in signing:
<a href="http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/NORM/4F63DC0452DC95BEC1256402003FD28B?OpenDocument">
http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/NORM/4F63DC0452DC95BEC12564...ument</a>
) <br><br>
Protocol III of the convention sets out prohibitions against use of
incendiary weapons such as WP (Israel did not sign the protocol). Parts
Protocol III relevantb to use of WP in Gaza include these:
Article 1: 'Incendiary weapon' means any weapon or munition which is
primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to
persons through the action of flame, heat, or combination thereof,
produced by a chemical reaction of a substance delivered on the target.
... 'Concentration of civilians' means any concentration of
civilians, be it permanent or temporary, such as in inhabited parts of
cities, or inhabited towns or villages, or as in camps or columns of
refugees or evacuees, or groups of nomads. <br><br>
Article 2. It is prohibited in all circumstances to make any military
objective located within a concentration of civilians the object of
attack by air-delivered incendiary weapons.'
(<a href="http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/protocol3.html">
http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/protocol3.html</a>)
<br><br>
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