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Marie Curie was an amazing scientist and mother of two talented and accomplished daughters.
This short clip reinforces misunderstood nature of her radiation work and its effect on her overall health.
It provides visual clues that should lead to improved understanding
This short clip reinforces misunderstood nature of her radiation work and its effect on her overall health.
It provides visual clues that should lead to improved understanding
@iaeaorg Mme Curie was a cautious scientist who understood that the penetrating nature of radiation could cause harmful health effects. She was known to have been a voracious reader, especially about her special interest area.
She was aware of reported harmful effects when they entered the literature – before 1900, within 4 yrs after first discoveries.
She felt effects when working too many hours in too close a proximity to radioactive sources.
Took lengthy breaks & experienced recovery effects
She felt effects when working too many hours in too close a proximity to radioactive sources.
Took lengthy breaks & experienced recovery effects
In 1990s her body was exhumed and moved to a place of honor. Proved her laboratory practices limited ingestion of radium and polonium. Her bones contained very low concentrations of internal emitters.
Those wartime, mobile x-ray machines illustrate a different source of harm.
Those wartime, mobile x-ray machines illustrate a different source of harm.
Look hard at the photos. Very small, apparently lightweight vehicles. Obviously little or no shielding compared to modern hospital x-ray installations.
Mme Curie & her teenage daughter, Irene operated the devices for as many as 16 hours/day 7 days/wk for four years during WWI.
Mme Curie & her teenage daughter, Irene operated the devices for as many as 16 hours/day 7 days/wk for four years during WWI.
As her daughter Eve, describes, Mme Curie understood that this was a hazardous choice. She was proud of her service to her adopted country and the lives that she was able to help save. She said that any danger was less than what soldiers faced.
Asked to be remembered as soldier
Asked to be remembered as soldier
Her wartime exposure imposed a toll. Her formerly robust health was weakened. She frequently was tired and unable to work as many hours as before the war. She expanded her radium successes and started Radium Institutes in both Paris and Warsaw. Traveled to US in early 1930s.
Passed away from aplastic anemia, thought to be a radiation exposure related precursor to leukemia on July 4, 1934, 15 yrs after end of WWI and a few months shy of her 67th birthday. At the time, average life expectancy of a French woman was about 64 years.
Story that should be understood and not feared is that working as a scientist with radioactive materials isn’t an early death sentence.
Working long hours for a sustained period as an x-ray technician using primitive, lightly shielded machines without proper self care can be
Working long hours for a sustained period as an x-ray technician using primitive, lightly shielded machines without proper self care can be
PS–Involving your teenage daughter in same wartime work can lead to “inherited” harmful effects. Irene Curie, the daughter who accompanied Marie onto battlefield with mobile Curie machines also earned a Nobel Prize as a scientist. She was just 54 when she died
Dose makes poison
Dose makes poison
PPS–Lise Meitner was Marie Curie’s contemporary. Also worked closely with radioactive materials for decades. Long-time partner of Otto Hahn in experiments leading to 1939 discovery of atomic fission. Should have shared credit & Nobel. Overlooked
She died in Oct 1968 at 89.
She died in Oct 1968 at 89.
