Answer to Question #344 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Historical Issues/Applications

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

I learned in nuke school that there was an incident at the Chelsea Clock Company (Boston) in the early 20^th century regarding painting numbers on the clocks with radium. Did this happen, and if so, what happened? Thanks. I am developing a lecture on hazard communications.

Our Health Physics Society expert on radium, Constantine Maletskos, CHP, PhD, recommends the book Deadly Glow: The Radium Dial Worker Tragedy. The book does not include any information on the Chelsea Clock Company; however, it does tell the story of the young women who worked in many other plants, including clock companies, and should provide the information you need for your lecture.

Following is information, including ordering instructions, that I copied from the American Public Health Association Web site about the book.

Deadly Glow: The Radium Dial Worker Tragedy by Ross Mullner

Deadly Glow is an important story of a public health tragedy. It chronicles the lives of numerous young women who worked in radium application plants in the early 1900s painting numerals on instrument and watch dials. From their experience, the harmful effects of radium deposited in the body became known. The victims suffered from skin ulcerations, tumors, and other severe medical symptoms. Physicians were baffled and misdiagnosed their conditions as heart disease and even syphilis. Solving the intriguing mystery of the workers' disabling, yet unknown, disease would be a complex and difficult task requiring brilliant detective work of several investigators. In time, this tragedy would be recognized as the worlds' first mass experience with injury and death caused by exposure to atomic radiation.This is a compelling story for occupational medicine, health physics, radiation safety, and public health workers. But for all people, Deadly Glow will tell the dreadful tale and heroic conclusion of a public health disaster. ISBN 0-87553-245-4 192 pages, softcover, 1999 $22.00 APHA Members $32.00 Nonmembers

Genevieve S. Roessler, Editor HPS Web Site

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