The Gruesome Fate of Matchstick Makers

In the 19th century, factory workers suffered from a condition that caused their jawbones to glow in the dark and eventually rot away. This tragic ailment was triggered by inhaling white phosphorus vapors while making matches.

This condition was officially called phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, but it earned the haunting nickname phossy jaw. Because phosphorus is a luminescent element, the deteriorating bone tissue would sometimes emit a visible green glow in dim light. The disease caused severe pain, swelling, and permanent disfigurement for thousands of laborers. Fortunately, global safety regulations banned white phosphorus in the early 20th century, finally ending this horrific industrial tragedy.