Public Health England, formerly known as “The Health Protection Agency” appear to have updated version one of a document entitled “white phosphorus incident management”, written in 2007.
The January 2016 update is perhaps long overdue, given that the previous incarnation stated that it would be updated not longer than 3 years “if substantive evidence becomes available.” What that means is unclear. But perhaps the incidents at Rattlechain and Rhodia/Solvay’s 2009 fire perhaps focussed the minds of this pious supercilious bunch of chemical industry sympathisers. More about that in a future blog post.
Both versions give basic information on the highly toxic flammable substance, and are still quite similar but the health effects section appears to have been tweaked.
“Health Effects
Major route of exposure
- effects may occur following exposure by all routes (ingestion, inhalation, dermal or ocular exposure) “
“small amounts”
There remain however substantive gaps when it comes to the actual “management” of a chemical, especially in terms of remediating former waste dumps where the chemical was buried and even the question of PHE’s maxim “protecting and improving the nation’s health” being explored.
Well that’s really helpful isn’t it!
Below is version one of the 2007 Health Protection Agency white phosphorus incident management for posterity.
The most interesting omission from the new version are the “frequently asked questions” about white phosphorus (pages 11 and 12 of the 2007 original). Perhaps Public Health England would rather we didn’t ask questions about this chemical anymore, its past and current military use and misuse abroad in fake terror wars.
There was also of course their abysmal “human health risk assessment” at Rattlechain, where they relied on Rhodia to give transparent information concerning their and Albright and Wilsons toxic legacy, yet the majority of the chemicals identified on paper theoretically were not in fact tested for or analysed.
If only birds could have read the advice offered here when landing on a white phosphorus waste dump lagoon, or if Rhodia had made people trying to rescue the poisoned birds aware of incident management for this chemical before inviting them onto the site when still operational to rescue the ailing creatures.
“ASKING MORE FROM CHEMISTRY” 😆
