Radium Girls: They paid with their lives. Their final fight was for justice.

In the early 20th century, young American women worked in factories painting clocks, watches, and military dials with radium, a luminous substance. They were promised it was safe, but it turned out to be poisonous, causing them to suffer from debilitating illnesses. Despite their employers denying responsibility, the women refused to accept their fate quietly and fought for justice, becoming a powerful example of resilience and determination.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

In the early 20th century, a group of young American women found themselves drawn to work in factories, where they were tasked with painting clocks, watches, and military dials with a special luminous substance called radium. The job was exciting, lucrative, and glamorous, as the women shone brightly in the dark and were covered head to toe in dust from the paint. However, as time went on, they began to suffer from mysterious and debilitating illnesses, which were later discovered to be caused by the radium paint they had been using.

The women's employers initially denied all responsibility for their illnesses, but these courageous women refused to accept their fate quietly. Instead, they became determined to fight for justice and to bring attention to the dangerous conditions they had been working in. Drawing on previously unpublished diaries, letters, and interviews, The Radium Girls is an intimate narrative of an unforgettable true story. It is the powerful tale of a group of ordinary women from the Roaring Twenties, who themselves learned how to roar and who refused to be silenced in the face of unimaginable suffering.

The radium paint used by these women was highly toxic and was known to cause cancer and other serious health problems. The women worked long hours in dimly lit factories, often without proper ventilation or protective gear, and were exposed to high levels of radium dust. As a result, many of them developed symptoms such as pain, weakness, and swelling in their hands and feet, as well as headaches and nausea.

Despite the dangers they faced, the women refused to be silenced. They organized themselves into a group called the Radium Dial Company Union, which fought for better working conditions and fair compensation for their illnesses. They also took their case to the courts, where they won a landmark victory against the U.S. Radium Corporation, which had been responsible for producing and selling the radium paint.

The Radium Girls' story is a powerful reminder of the importance of workplace safety and the rights of workers to a safe and healthy working environment. It also highlights the courage and determination of ordinary people who are willing to stand up against powerful corporations and fight for their rights. The women's legacy continues to inspire workers around the world today, and their story serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and standing up for what is right.

Weight: 340g
Dimension: 199 x 143 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781471153884