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Discovery of Radium
- Marie studied the mineral pitchblende, uranium is the primary element in pitchblende, she reported the potential existence of one or more other radioactive elements in that mineral.
- Marie and her husband Pierre joined forces and discovered one of the elements in pitchblende and they named it Radium.
- “Their combined work led to the use of radioactive materials in medicine, since isotopes are more effective and safer than surgery or chemicals for attacking cancers and other diseases.”
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Radium Craze
In the early 1900s radium was being used as a cure all.
It was believed to be a treatment for cancer and a cure for many other diseases from fatigue, headaches, constipation, and impotence to anemia, arthritis, asthma, and diabetes.
"A REVOLUTIONARY beauty secret was revealed when Scientists discovered Radium. With its power to rejuvenate and vitalize all living tissue, Radium has proved of inestimable value to the skin and complexion." -
Radium Luminous Material Corporation
This company was founded by Dr. Sabin Arnold von Sochocky and Dr. George S. Willis
They moved into the business of producing radioluminescent paint, and then to the application of that paint.
Undark was the name of their luminescent paint it was a mix of radium and zinc sulfide.
They used this paint to make watches glow in the dark, it was applied by young women who were encouraged to maintain a fine tip on their paintbrushes by licking them. -
The Radium Girls
In 1917 the United States Radium Corporation employed the Radium girls across 3 different factories
The Radium Girls job was to paint this new luminescent paint on watch dials.
They originally started making these watches for military use but it quickly became popular with civilians. -
USCR Workers
Many large families of girls worked for USCR as dial painters. Around 300 girls worked there at the peak of operation.
"The men who worked for USRC wore lead aprons to protect them from this radiation, which was known to have a cumulative effect. The shop girls were given no protection of any kind and encouraged to lick their brushes to get a fine point for detail work."
The paint got all over them, they came home from work glowing.
Their supervisors assured them it was safe. -
Illnesses Begin
Many dial workers started complaining about strange illnesses
Their teeth would hurt and then eventually fall out, the holes where the teeth were wouldn't heal and formed abscesses
They developed anemia, brittle bones, and jaw necrosis
They didn't know they were suffering from radiation poisoning. -
Amelia Maggia Dies at age 25
Amelia had been working as a dial painter from 1917-1921
In the days leading up to her death she was experiencing dental pain, and tooth loss, her jaw bone began to deteriorate and they had to remove it.
She died from radium poisoning but the coroner declared her death was due to Syphilis.
Her friend and coworker Grace didn't believe the report and worked on uncovering the truth about her cause of death. -
Chief medical examiner
"Harrison Stanford Martland, MD, published a report in 1925 that identified the radioactive material the women had ingested as the cause of their bone disease and aplastic anemia, and ultimately death."
1925 Dr. Martland was chosen to fill the post of Essex County Physician. Immediately, he saw the danger of divided authority in the system that allowed a coroner's jury of laymen to decide causes of sudden death therefore, he set out to establish the medical examiner system in Essex County. -
Legal Battle
The 5 remaining living Radium girls filed a lawsuit against their former employer in 1927.
It took them 2 years to find a lawyer willing to represent them.
By 1928 they went to trial and all 5 of them were too ill to raise their hand for the oath.
Their lawyer feared they wouldn't survive trial, they settled the case outside of court.
They were awarded $10,000 in damages and $600 Per year for the rest of their lives. -
Case Settled
When the case settled in 1928 in the women's favor it was a The dangers of radium became widely known around this time.
Because of the radium girls lawsuit workers were finally provided proper protective gear.
They discontinued the lip-pointing technique.
"Radium paint itself was eventually phased out and has not been used in watches since 1968."