Making History Come Alive Newsletter offers the story of the "Radium Girls"
The "Radium Girls" were female factory workers in the early 20th century who suffered severe health consequences from working with radium-laced paint. This tragic chapter in industrial history has had significant implications for workers' rights and occupational safety regulations.
Background:
- Radium Dial Painting: In the 1910s and 1920s, radium was widely used to make luminous paint, which glowed in the dark. This paint was applied to watch dials, military instruments, and other items to make them visible in low-light conditions.
- Factories: The most notable factories were the United States Radium Corporation in Orange, New Jersey, and the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois.
The Work:
- Painting Process: The women, often referred to as "dial painters," were instructed to use a technique called "lip-dip-paint." This involved shaping the brush with their lips to create a fine point, dipping it into the radium paint, and then applying it to the dials. This process caused them to ingest small amounts of radium with each stroke.
- Health Risks: At the time, radium was not fully understood, and it was even marketed as a health tonic. However, radium is highly radioactive, and prolonged exposure can cause severe health problems, including bone fractures, necrosis (death of body tissue), and bone cancer.
The Consequences:
- Health Problems: Many of the women began experiencing serious health issues, including jaw necrosis (often referred to as "radium jaw"), tooth loss, anemia, and bone cancer. Some died painful, early deaths as a result of radium poisoning.
- Legal Battles: The plight of the Radium Girls led to several high-profile lawsuits. In 1927, five women from the United States Radium Corporation sued the company for negligence. The case, known as Radium Girls v. United States Radium Corporation, resulted in a settlement, but it brought significant public attention to the issue.
Impact and Legacy:
- Regulations: The suffering of the Radium Girls led to increased awareness of the dangers of radiation and industrial toxins. It played a crucial role in the establishment of labor safety standards and regulations enforced by organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States.