When Women Fought Back Against Glowing Death

Ebbs of History · Jul 9, 2026 · 28m · transcript

In the 1920s, young women painting watch dials with radium were told the glowing substance was completely harmless. They were even encouraged to lick their brushes to keep a fine point. But as their bodies began to glow in the dark and their bones crumbled, these women realized they had been poisoned. Their fight for justice against powerful corporations became a landmark case that transformed workplace safety laws and established the right of workers to sue for occupational diseases. This is the story of courage, tragedy, and the women who changed labor rights forever.

Sources:

Wikipedia…