REVIEW article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Disaster and Emergency Medicine
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1632840
White Phosphorus Munitions: Pathophysiology, Clinical Management, and Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Burn Injuries and Humanitarian Challenges
Provisionally accepted
- 1Xijing 986 Hospital Department, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
- 2Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
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White phosphorus (WP), a highly reactive and toxic substance, has been widely used in military applications. White phosphorus munitions (WPMs) embody a complex intersection of military utility and humanitarian concern, inflicting devastating injuries through their dual destructive mechanisms. These weapons induce severe thermal and chemical damage, penetrating deep into tissues to cause progressive necrosis and life-threatening systemic toxicity even with minimal exposure. This review synthesizes current understanding of WP injury pathophysiologyincluding hypocalcemia-induced arrhythmias, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and hepatorenal failure-while examining evidence-based interventions spanning battlefield first aid to advanced regenerative therapies. By integrating perspectives from military medicine, toxicology, and global health equity, this review provides a comprehensive foundation for clinicians, and researchers confronting the multidimensional challenges posed by WP injuries in conflict and post-conflict settings.
Keywords: battlefield medicine, tactical medicine, White phosphorus munitions, Chemical burns, Battlefield First Aid
Received: 21 May 2025; Accepted: 16 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wang, Bai, Zhang, Zhang and Kang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Along Kang, Xijing 986 Hospital Department, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
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