In the 1898 Marie Curie and her husband discovered a new element, but what they didn’t know at the time was the destructive capabilities of radiation. 

The Curies had discovered the soon-to-be craze of the early 20th century, Radium. 

Radium fascinated the public, especially due to the luminescent properties it was named after. 

This exciting, elusive, element was quickly marketed for its “numerous health benefits,” soon infiltrating many markets from cosmetics to even bottled water. 

It was found that, upon mixing radium with paint, the paint would also inherit the signature radium glow. 

And soon after WWI began, the need for glowing paint was found. 

In the front lines, illuminated watches were needed to see time without bulky lamps. 

The United States Radium Corporation (previously in uranium production) started producing this radio luminescent paint. 

Watch dials were to be delicately and preciously coated using this paint. 

Like other war effort-supporting jobs, the main demographic employed for this watch painting was young women. 

These were the radium girls. 

Ironically, this job was considered safer than others ( e.g. ammunition making); in fact, these women were considered lucky to be working with such a sought-after product. 

The supervisors at the United States Radium Corporation (USRC) instructed the workers to “point” the brush bristles using their lips, as dial-painting had to be precise. 

“Lip… Dip… Paint.”- Kate Moore, The Radium Girls 

The unfortunate women working with radium paint even painted their teeth and nails with it, hence the nickname glowing girls. But they were unaware of the calamity that would follow. 

Well, in the 1920s, the aftermath crises arose. 

Otherwise perfectly healthy women suddenly developed an assortment of different ailments; such as anaemia, cancer, dental decay, necrosis of the jaw (cell death in the jawbone), reproductive issues. 

All the effects of radiation poisoning. 

Doctors dismissed these women, often attributing their deaths to syphilis. 

January 1928, Grace Fryer, along with four other girls, after noticing the questionable and frequent deaths of their co-workers, sued the USRC. 

Although the USRC was aware of the dangers of radiation, they deceived these young workers into believing in the false benefits of it. 

The USRC kept trying to delay the trial in the hope that the girls would just die. 

When they began the case, all 5 of the girls were in terrible condition – now resigned to their deaths which persuaded them to settle. 

The settlement included the USRC giving $10,000 to each, a $600 stipend per year and coverage of all medical and legal expenses. 

But the settlement allowed the company to escape without much formal blame for the situation. 

This was one of the first times a company was held accountable for the safety of its employees. 

Paving the way for health and safety regulations today and laying the foundation of our understanding of radiation was the legacy these glowing girls left.