The Radium Girls - 1917

2 December 2025

17 mins 22 secs

Season 1

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jaw necrosis cancer necrosis radium-poisoning usa new jersey orange radium-based paint poisoning war girls watch-dial painting united states radium corporation girls radium radioactive war factories factories radium girls world war i osha rrc nebosh iosh safety laws safety health and safety

About this Episode

Who were the Radium Girls? In this episode, we discover the story of a group of women in 1917 who, by believing they were valiantly contributing to the war effort, suffered a terrible fate and ended up significantly changing workplace safety laws forever.
Scientific awareness, safer workplace practices and workplace regulations were all born out of the unsafe use of radium in World War I factories, and the tragic consequences it had for these young women.