The Radium Girls

In the early 20th century, young women working in watch factories were told to paint luminous numbers using radium based paint, often licking their brushes to keep the tips fine. Unaware of the danger, they ingested and absorbed deadly doses of radiation, leading to horrific illnesses including crumbling bones, glowing skin, and slow agonizing deaths. Their fight for justice became a landmark case in workplace safety, forcing industries to confront the human cost of profit and silence. Fearful is a podcast produced by Media Forge Studios, and releases a new episode here every Wednesday.