If a populated area is exposed to white phosphorus, residents can get poisoning by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. 
Adverse health affects that result from contact with white phosphorus:

• Eye and nose: conjunctivitis, irritation, lacrimation, and corneal damage
• Heart: tachycardia, arrhythmia, heart block, and shock.
• Respiratory system: upper respiratory tract irritation, cough, difficulty breathing, tachypnea, pulmonary edema, and bronchitis.
• Skin: severe pain, necrosis, second or third degree burns that are yellowish and smell like garlic.
• Central nervous system (CNS): headache, seizures, delusions, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, general weakness, and coma.
• Gastrointestinal system (GIT): nausea, vomiting (could be bloody), abdominal pain, diarrhea, and smoke-smell being produced from vomitus and stool.
• Genitourinary system: blood in urine, and renal failure.
• Circulatory system: abnormal lab results for blood analysis.