189 - Radium Girls: A Not So Healthy Glow

We discuss the horrific case of the Radium Girls, young women who worked for companies in the early 20th century painting watch dials with glowing radium based paint.  They were told the product was harmless and were allowed to ingest it and use it as a fashion accessory.  Almost all of the women came down with serious health effects and radiation poisoning while their employers did their best to cover the issue up.  The case eventually became on of the driving forces that led to the founding of OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which is tasked with protecting American workers from workplace dangers.