Reading The Radium Girls
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
I am in the midst of reading The Radium Girls. I have read many history and true crime books. I can honestly say I have never read or heard of anything so disturbing.
In part, it is because I know how dangerous radiation is. It is hard to believe people could be so ill informed. It is like watching a horror movie where you know where the killer is hiding and want to warn people not to go there.
But what is worse is that the companies (factories) that used radium to paint watches and other materials lied so easily about the dangers of radium. They were told to put the radium paint brushes in their mouths to sharpen the tip pf the paint brush. Because radoum was safe to eat and healthy. The company threatened doctors who tried to diagnosed and expose radium posioning.
And even after the dangers radium and radiation were brought to light, it was hard to hold the company accountable. They were dying. In severe pain with horrible symptoms. There was no hope. And yet, they were trying to take advantage of the company somehow? I won't go into the details because they are gruesome, but it infuriates me what people (businesses) will do to protect their profits.