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cover of episode 26: Women Were Poisoned by Their Job for Years: The Radium Girls

26: Women Were Poisoned by Their Job for Years: The Radium Girls

2022/1/5
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Dark History

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Radium, discovered by Marie Curie, was initially hailed as a miracle substance due to its glowing properties and potential medical uses. It was widely incorporated into various products, from watches to cosmetics, despite early warnings about its dangers.

Shownotes Transcript

When Radium popped on to the scene in the early 1900s, it was called “liquid sunshine” and a “mythological superbeing.” Why? Because it was incredibly powerful and literally glowed. But then a few companies had the bright idea to start making watches with it. Today, Bailey tells the tale of the Radium Girls who were exposed to the radioactive chemical, in horrible working conditions, and lost their lives because of it.

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