as a nurse currently working at a major academic center in Durham NC, and who has worked in research since 2002, I can tell you that, as tragic and sad as this story is, these ladies did not die in vain. OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) and the regulations surrounding research (demand for transparency and NOT allow sponsors of research to pick and choose what they wish to release)...accountability standards are in place. I am grateful for Jess in bringing this book to our attention. That is the great value of book clubs! So much to read and it is through book clubs like this that one might get an opportunity to learn something new!
The radium girls believed that their work was a way for them to help the war effort-and except for the man passing through the factory to warn one girl about putting the paint brush in her mouth, the supervisors and even media ads assured people of radium's safety and even benefits. Very interesting read, thanks Jess!
Just before you shared that comment, I was actually feeling dread as you were reading. To have been fired from that job would be a blessing. And the story just keeps getting worse, selling the paint, contaminating playgrounds. I did have the same thought as to the parties who would be held responsible. Would the worst be that too much time would pass and no one would end up being held responsible? And to add insult to injury, to die with your family being told it was your own fault! What cruel circumstances! This is a very painful story.
If you think of looking up radium poisoning jaw photos I must warn you. The photos are the stuff of nightmares. I don’t recommend looking. May all the souls who died in the terrible way, rest in peace…
This is an amazing story!! How tragic that these girls were trying to help the war effort and believe they were doing good to have this happen to them!!! Thanks for sharing Jess.
Did you know that most osteoporosis drugs can cause necrosis of the jaw? I take a product called Bone Up as opposed to what the doctor tried to give me.
Years ago I learned Fosamax, a osteoporosis drug, like all bisphosphonate drugs share a common phosphorus-carbon-phosphorus backbone. These meds are also associated with long bone breakage as well as jaw bone issues. This backs up what you said as well as this story.
I love it when I get notified that you have a new video even though I never know what book you're on. I like your surprises as opposed to the "new normal " surprises.
I'll be looking forward to the tour through the old magazines - Two of my most used expressions are young people think that history began when they woke up today and old timers need to start speaking up - for me the two magazine covers that about said it all and are still ongoing today is the 1966 Time magazine cover without a picture and only three words "IS GOD DEAD" - 5 years later in 1971 that same Time magazine had a cover with a picture of a psychedelic Jesus with the words "Jesus Revolution" when in looking back makes perfect sense as the 1960 Decade in America was INSANE - PEACE
Yes, this was a hard chapter about Molly. So typical, poor woman, when they couldn't find a cause, they had to resort to syphilis! It is a good book! We can all learn from it. We have to keep thinking for ourselves and do our own risk assessments. Let's not just believe that someting new is 'safe and effective'!
I love when I learn new events like this (even sad ones). Last night, I let my fingers navigate to Google. There are multiple (black and white) documentaries which are worth watching!
I am reading my library book of this story but I realize that I am not reading the same edition you have. I have what is titled "Young Readers Edition". My edition has a glossary and a timeline in the back of the book. So if any of you are looking for this book, consider this edition.
Jess, thank you for choosing The Radium Girls. I knew at a superficial level, but this was not complete ignorance on the part of the “top dogs”. I doubt it would ever be tracked, but I wonder the effects on babies born to these women, and potential contamination to family and especially husbands. Having recently learned a bit about epigenetics, my thoughts go to long term effects on progeny. The dictum of profit over safety seems to have no national boundaries, or, for that matter, time frame. On a more cheerful note, I do like your introduction, and the idea of earning someone’s decision to subscribe.
I love where your mind is going. Please continue to share about epigenetics. That is something I know almost nothing about and would love to hear more from you with your thoughts or observations as you perceive extra risks here in this story.
A good starting point is on RU-vid TED Talks Courtney Griffiths speaking about Epigenetics. I haven’t even finished listening and I simply HAVE to forward details. What happens in utero, the potential and the actual, is mind blowing. Courtney is a mother of twins. Happy hunting.🙏
Hello Jess, I was just thinking about all the watches that were painted with the 1600 yr radium. Do you think we could find one and it would still give off rays!!
They still do. There are still some that will sell on eBay. Some people collect them. There are articles about it. The rays they put off ARE still dangerous and they do have to be handled in a careful manner.
At about 2 minutes and 10 seconds in I laughed so hard I could not believe what I was hearing - I think I laughed as a response that it was so hard to acknowledge what I had just heard about the detail of the process as everyone was so oblivious
I don’t know how good prohibition really was. Or if anything really got ‘better’. It seemed good in theory, but from what I’ve read and documentaries I’ve seen- it caused bootlegging which helped to grow and spread organized crime, people started to make ‘bathtub gin, made from things a lot worse than alcohol, and then there’s the problem of alcohol addiction- any alcoholic stopping cold turkey could lead them to experience the ‘DTs’ (detoxing)- Which could’ve made abuse even worse in some cases , or even cause the passing of the addicted.
Now I must ask a question that may be utterly stupid, and apologies if I didnt pay the required attention: where does this radium dust come from that was brushed off the girls' clothes by the end of their shift? They applied the paint with a brush, so I always considered it to be a kind of more or less liquid substance? Or was it indeed a kind of powder? Hope I don't sound the village idiot now, I listen and sometimes re-listen while commuting or chores.
Not a dumb question. My assuming has been that the paint gets here, there, and everywhere, and dries, and then dried into a sort of powder. Later, we do read about one of the ladies who is in charge of mixing paint more often and it was dusty before it was mixed. So maybe at this stage, they were all mixing their own or expose to the mixing? It makes it sound like they all needed to “dust off.” 🤷🏻♀️😳
