In the 1920s, young women were told radium was harmless.
They painted their teeth with it. They even licked their brushes.
Months later, their bones glowed in the dark, and their jaws crumbled from their faces.
This is the horrifying true story of the Radium Girls:
They painted their teeth with it. They even licked their brushes.
Months later, their bones glowed in the dark, and their jaws crumbled from their faces.
This is the horrifying true story of the Radium Girls:
In the 1910s, radium was the wonder element.
It was sold in face creams, energy tonics, and even toothpaste.
People believed it gave life.
No one realized it was lethal except the companies that used it.
It was sold in face creams, energy tonics, and even toothpaste.
People believed it gave life.
No one realized it was lethal except the companies that used it.
During WWI, U.S. Radium Corp hired teenage girls to paint watch dials with glow-in-the-dark paint.
The paint made the numbers glow at night, which was crucial for soldiers in WWI.
The rate of pay was about a penny and a half per dial.
But there was a deadly secret.
The paint made the numbers glow at night, which was crucial for soldiers in WWI.
The rate of pay was about a penny and a half per dial.
But there was a deadly secret.
To get a fine brush tip, girls were taught to put the brush in their mouths, over and over.
They swallowed radium dozens of times a day.
Supervisors told them it was harmless and even healthy.
Some girls painted their teeth, nails, and faces for fun.
They swallowed radium dozens of times a day.
Supervisors told them it was harmless and even healthy.
Some girls painted their teeth, nails, and faces for fun.
At night, they’d walk home with glowing hair and clothes.
They thought it made them look like angels.
In truth, their bones were becoming radioactive.
They thought it made them look like angels.
In truth, their bones were becoming radioactive.
Soon, the girls started losing teeth.
Their jaws developed abscesses.
Dentists described one girl’s jaw as “falling out in pieces.”
The radium had seeped into their bones, glowing from within.
Their jaws developed abscesses.
Dentists described one girl’s jaw as “falling out in pieces.”
The radium had seeped into their bones, glowing from within.
U.S. Radium knew radium was dangerous.
Male lab workers wore lead aprons and masks.
But the female dial painters were told: “It’s safe enough to eat.”
When girls got sick, the company blamed syphilis for destroying their reputations.
Male lab workers wore lead aprons and masks.
But the female dial painters were told: “It’s safe enough to eat.”
When girls got sick, the company blamed syphilis for destroying their reputations.
In 1922, Mollie Maggia, 24, died in agony.
Her jawbone was removed during an autopsy, still glowing.
Dozens more followed, dying from anemia, cancer, or necrosis.
Some glowed in the dark in their coffins.
Her jawbone was removed during an autopsy, still glowing.
Dozens more followed, dying from anemia, cancer, or necrosis.
Some glowed in the dark in their coffins.
Five women: Grace Fryer, Edna Hussman, and three others sued U.S. Radium.
They could barely walk.
Grace wore a back brace just to sit upright in court.
The case became a national sensation.
They could barely walk.
Grace wore a back brace just to sit upright in court.
The case became a national sensation.
Newspapers called them “The Living Dead.”
U.S. Radium fought dirty.
They tried delaying the trial until the women died.
But the public outrage was too great.
U.S. Radium fought dirty.
They tried delaying the trial until the women died.
But the public outrage was too great.
In 1928, the women won.
Each got $10,000 (about $180,000 today), medical expenses, and $600 a year for life.
But most didn’t live long enough to collect.
Each got $10,000 (about $180,000 today), medical expenses, and $600 a year for life.
But most didn’t live long enough to collect.
In Illinois, Radium Dial repeated the same crime.
More girls died.
One woman’s body was exhumed decades later, and her skeleton was still glowing.
More girls died.
One woman’s body was exhumed decades later, and her skeleton was still glowing.
The Radium Girls’ suffering forced companies to provide worker protections.
It led to labor laws, OSHA, and radiation safety standards.
They died, but they saved millions of lives.
It led to labor laws, OSHA, and radiation safety standards.
They died, but they saved millions of lives.
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