Reply #20: Yeah, but these ain't 'lectric lights.

[leanings]

They're chemical lights, and contain..."a hydrogen peroxide solution and a solution containing a phenyl oxalate ester and a fluorescent dye."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/light-stick.htm

No phosphorus. Nothing harmful. It's just a misstatement. What the writer meant was:

phos·pho·res·cence ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fsf-rsns)
n.
Persistent emission of light following exposure to and removal of incident radiation.
Emission of light without burning or by very slow burning without appreciable heat, as from the slow oxidation of phosphorous: “He saw the phosphorescence of the Gulf weed in the water” (Ernest Hemingway).

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phospho·rescent adj.
phospho·rescent·ly adv.


and not...

phos·phor·ic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fs-fôrk, -fr-)
adj.
Of, relating to, or containing phosphorus, especially with valence 5 or a valence higher than that of a comparable phosphorous compound.

I mean, I'm no chemist. One of those chemicals in there might be in some way phosphoric, and I could be totally wrong about that. But I can assure you that they in no way cause burns. Again, a little critical thinking here. Phosphorus is used in grenades; why would you use what would essentially be a small, activated grenade as your light source? I've seen burning white phosphorus immolate steel; how would a thin plastic tube keep it in place?

I don't mean to ride you on this. I just hate seeing these completely off-the-wall myths started, because they gather a life of their own.