From 1917, thousands of women in the US and Canada were hired to apply radioactive, self-luminous paint to watch faces and instrument dials.
They were never told how to safely handle the paint and they were never told it was unsafe.
Soon they began to get very sick.
They were never told how to safely handle the paint and they were never told it was unsafe.
Soon they began to get very sick.
Wondrous Radium!
Advertisement for Radium products. "Radium Is Restoring Health to Thousands", "Vita Radium Suppositories – For Restoring Sex Power", "Radium Gets Those Dishes Clean"... Radium was treated like a wonder cure for just about any ailment, and even a few household chores, during the first quarter of the 1900s. Radium was being sewn directly into tumours and it was good at killing them, it was added to toothpaste to help bring out those pearly whites, it was even added to health spas to further their healing properties. It was added to tonics for all sorts of ailments and creams and make-up to further promote ones natural beauty.
Radium would soon be known to the public for what it is - an incredibly radioactive and lethal substance - but not before many illnesses and deaths were attributed to it.
Radium would soon be known to the public for what it is - an incredibly radioactive and lethal substance - but not before many illnesses and deaths were attributed to it.
Undark - luminous watch face advert. Another use of Radium was for illuminating watch faces, clocks and equipment panels. During World War I soldiers fighting in the front lines found that their watches were next to useless. Easily dropped and broken the watches had a relatively short life span, but another fault in them would see the lifespan of the soldier trying to read one in the dark potentially shortened. In order to read their watch at night a soldier would need to light it up in order to read it. This proved a problem as it could give a soldiers position away to the enemy. Something needed to be done.
Radium mixed with zinc sulfide and a little glue became luminous paint. When applied to a watches hands and face the dull glow allowed it to be read in the dark, but the glow was not bright enough to be seen from any real distance. It was a perfect solution for those fighting in the trenches.
The amount of Radium painted onto these watch faces was minuscule and posed no health problems for those wearing them. However, those who applied the paint to the watches were not so lucky...
Radium mixed with zinc sulfide and a little glue became luminous paint. When applied to a watches hands and face the dull glow allowed it to be read in the dark, but the glow was not bright enough to be seen from any real distance. It was a perfect solution for those fighting in the trenches.
The amount of Radium painted onto these watch faces was minuscule and posed no health problems for those wearing them. However, those who applied the paint to the watches were not so lucky...
The Radium Girls
Watch dial painters during world war one. From 1917, thousands of women in the US and Canada were hired to apply luminous paint to watch faces and other items. They were never told how to safely handle the compound as they were never told it was unsafe. With all of the therapeutic treatments using Radium and the combating of diseases they had no real reason to question it.
These women dial painters were expected to paint approximately 250 watch faces a day, each watch face taking several strokes from a very fine tipped camel hair brush coated with the luminous paint. However, every few strokes a few brush hairs would pull away from the point, losing the shape of the tip. Supervisors encouraged the women to re-point the brushes with their lips and tongues, taking the brush between their lips and slowly drawing it away from the mouth, fixing the tip. This would of course cause the luminous paint to come in contact with the lips and tongue, and even ingested.
Once again this was never questioned as the dial painters were always told it was safe, regardless of the fact that scientists and higher ups used safety equipment – lead screens, special gloves and avoided exposure themselves. The scientists and owners of the plant knew of the potential hazards.
Sometimes the dial painters would apply the paint to their nails, teeth, hair and clothing if they were heading out on the town for the evening. This would literally cause them to radiate light and would have made for quite a show. However, all of this was killing them slowly, as they were soon to discover.
These women dial painters were expected to paint approximately 250 watch faces a day, each watch face taking several strokes from a very fine tipped camel hair brush coated with the luminous paint. However, every few strokes a few brush hairs would pull away from the point, losing the shape of the tip. Supervisors encouraged the women to re-point the brushes with their lips and tongues, taking the brush between their lips and slowly drawing it away from the mouth, fixing the tip. This would of course cause the luminous paint to come in contact with the lips and tongue, and even ingested.
Once again this was never questioned as the dial painters were always told it was safe, regardless of the fact that scientists and higher ups used safety equipment – lead screens, special gloves and avoided exposure themselves. The scientists and owners of the plant knew of the potential hazards.
Sometimes the dial painters would apply the paint to their nails, teeth, hair and clothing if they were heading out on the town for the evening. This would literally cause them to radiate light and would have made for quite a show. However, all of this was killing them slowly, as they were soon to discover.
'Radium Jaw' Later the women would start to suffer from radiation sickness. The most common symptom of the sickness for those working at the factories was fracturing and necrosis of the jaw. Teeth would become loose and fall out, severe swelling would blow the jaw out of proportion and severe agony and weakness were also present. Dentists and doctors in Orange, New Jersey, began to notice a massive jump in the amount of disease and damage found in the jaws of young, local women. It soon became apparent what the common link was – they had all worked at the United States Radium factory.
In some cases the jaws were so far gone pieces of the bone could be picked out of the mouth cavity by hand. Later studies would show the jaw bones were so radioactive that when placed on photographic film there was sufficient energy to leave an imprint.
In some cases the jaws were so far gone pieces of the bone could be picked out of the mouth cavity by hand. Later studies would show the jaw bones were so radioactive that when placed on photographic film there was sufficient energy to leave an imprint.
Lethally Sick
Not all sickness was present in the face... An investigation was carried out but findings were hidden, fabricated or outright lied about. US Radium and defence contractors were not about to let this get out. In some instances women who were very obviously sick were given clean bills of health by corporation hired doctors. Worse than this, however, was when their sicknesses were blamed on syphilis, which ultimately tarred the name and reputations of these, in many cases, lethally sick women.
In the end one of the factories dial painters, Grace Fryer, decided to sue. It took her two years to find a lawyer who would take on the case and then another few months for the courts to begin the process. Five women all up would join in the suit but by the time of their first appearance two were bedridden, and none could take the oath – they were too weak to raise their arms.
US Radium was dragging its heals. At one point the case was adjourned several months as several US Radium witnesses were on holiday in Europe!
In the end one of the factories dial painters, Grace Fryer, decided to sue. It took her two years to find a lawyer who would take on the case and then another few months for the courts to begin the process. Five women all up would join in the suit but by the time of their first appearance two were bedridden, and none could take the oath – they were too weak to raise their arms.
US Radium was dragging its heals. At one point the case was adjourned several months as several US Radium witnesses were on holiday in Europe!
In the end the case was settled out of court. Each of the five women, now dubbed the "Radium Girls" - Grace Fryer, Katherine Schaub, Edna Hussman, Quinta McDonald and Albina Larice - were awarded the today equivalent of $137,000, and $8,500 per year for the remainders of their lives. All medical and legal fees were also covered.
Luminous radium paint was continued to be used on watch dials into the 1960's, however, using much safer procedures.
It is not known how many women (and men) died as a result of working with the self luminous paint. It was also sold as a do it yourself at home kit....
Luminous radium paint was continued to be used on watch dials into the 1960's, however, using much safer procedures.
It is not known how many women (and men) died as a result of working with the self luminous paint. It was also sold as a do it yourself at home kit....
As well as having written over 300 articles about all things paranormal, strange, dark and bizarre for The Paranormal Guide, Ashley is also the producer and director of the sites videos, and is the producer and host of The Paranormal Guide Podcast.
"Researcher, Investigator, Writer, Director, Film Maker, Folklorist... Basically I love a good story and even better if it has a dark or paranormal twist!"
Find Ashley on Facebook HERE!
Ashley founded, owns and operates The Paranormal Guide.
"Researcher, Investigator, Writer, Director, Film Maker, Folklorist... Basically I love a good story and even better if it has a dark or paranormal twist!"
Find Ashley on Facebook HERE!
Ashley founded, owns and operates The Paranormal Guide.
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