Albright & Wilson’s Chemical Arm

Historical Profiles: NarrowBoat, Autumn 2024

Andy Tidy

Andy Tidy explores the important canal connections of an Oldbury-based chemical manufacturer 

Phosphorus is a waxy chemical substance with a yellowish appearance and a smell similar to garlic. Its distinctive feature is its propensity to ignite as soon as it comes into contact with oxygen. It is often used by the military to illuminate battlefields and create smokescreens, and is also the active ingredient in incendiary weapons. When ignited, phosphorus is very difficult to extinguish and will stick to skin and clothing. The substance causes severe burns to anyone whose skin comes into contact with it or who inhales its toxic smoke. Unfortunately, the toxic attributes of white/yellow phosphorous were not confined to the battlefield. In the absence of adequate personal protection, those who worked with it often suffered from a condition called phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, otherwise known as phossy jaw. Prolonged exposure to phosphorous dissolved the workers’ jaw bones and resulted in terribly disfiguring injuries. The health risks associated with white phosphorous exp…