Phossy jaw was an occupational disease which affected workers in environments with prolonged, unprotected exposure to phosphorous, a toxic chemical element which deteriorated human bone, could cause brain damage and also be lethal on occasion.
With the Industrial Revolution, "match girls", the women and children who made matchsticks, were particularly susceptible to phossy jaw due to phosphorous being a key component in matchstick production. The group's well-being was among those championed by Annie Besant in her efforts to aid workers' rights
Sources[]
- The Promise of Progress (Non-fiction source)
