Radium was discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre in 1898 . In 1903 , the Royal Academy of Sciences awarded Marie and Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel the Nobel Prize in Physics , hold Marie the first woman to pull ahead the prize . Later , in 1911 , she would bring home the bacon her second Nobel for isolating Ra , discovering another element ( Po ) , and for her research into the new phenomenon of radioactivity , a give-and-take she coined herself .
By 1910 , radium was manufactured synthetically in the U.S. But before the effects of radiation syndrome exposure were well understand , radium ended up in a lot of brainsick places for its purport charming healing dimension and its glow - in - the - dark bangle .
1. In Chocolate
Food products moderate Ra , like the Radium Schokolade umber bar manufactured by Burk & Braun and Hippman - Blach bakery ’s Radium Bread , made with radium water supply , were popular oversea until they were stop in 1936 .
2. In Water
Ra H2O crocks like the Revigator store a gallon of water inside a atomic number 88 - lace up pail ; drinking the water supply would cure any number of ailments , from arthritis to impotence to wrinkles .
3. In Toys and Nightlights
The Radiumscope , a toy dog sell as deep as 1942 , extend a coup d’oeil of radium in action . note radium ’s famed luminescence , the advertising also mentions that the radiumscope could double as a “ wonderful ” nightlight , since it “ glows with a weird light in a dark room . ”
4. In Toothpaste
Toothpaste check both radium and thorium was sell by a man named Dr. Alfred Curie , who was not related to Marie or Pierre but did n’t miss an chance to capitalize on their name .
5. In Cosmetics
Alfred Curie ’s product line did n’t terminate with dental aid , though . He also manufactured the extremely popular Tho - Radia marque of cosmetics , which included powders and ointment that promise to rejuvenate and brighten the skin .
6. In Heating Pads and Suppositories
other twentieth - century MD also jump onto the radioactive bandwagon with both feet , develop suppository , heating plant pads and radioactive coins ( used to “ charge ” small amounts of water ) , all intend to treat rheumatism , helplessness , malaise and just about any wellness ailment for which a fast and magical cure was needed .
7. In the Treatment of Impotence
Before the days of Viagra and Cialis , discourse for impotency took the frame of radioactive “ bougies ” – wax rods inserted into the urethra – and even athletic friend bear a level of radium - knock up fabric . A popular alternate treatment call the Radioendocrinator was a booklet that contained a number of bill of fare coat in radium , which were worn inside the undergarment at night . ( The Radioendocrinator ’s artificer died of vesica Crab in 1949 . )
8. In Health Spas
Radium and radon health spa took off in the 20s and 30s , where women and gentleman likewise could stop in for a long relaxing soakage in atomic number 88 clay , rinse with atomic number 88 piss and leave behind soft and glowing , thanks to a thorough software of Ra cream . Radium mine and caves also double as “ healing elbow room , ” if patron were unforced to travel . At least one Ra spa is still in operation in the United States , as are a few in Japan in Europe .
9. In Clocks and Watches
Between 1917 and 1926 , during the meridian of Ra ’s heyday , the U.S. Radium Corporation employed more than a hundred prole ( mostly women ) to paint watch and clock face with their patent Undark luminous blusher . As many as 70 women were engage to commix the Undark key , comprised of glue , water and radium powder . Workers were instruct to shape paintbrushes with their mouths to maintain a fine period , and some used the material to paint their nails and tooth . While U.S. Radium ’s task military force were all but encouraged to take the dangerous mixture , management and research scientist who were aware of the danger carefully avoided any pic themselves .
Five Radium Girls action U.S. Radium in a shell that initiated trade union movement safety standard and proletarian ' rights . There are no records of how many of U.S. Radium ’s employees suffered from anemia , incomprehensible bone fractures , bleeding mucilage and eventually , mortification of the jaw . Though many of the factory ’s workers became unhinged , cases of death by radiation therapy sickness were initially attributed to syphilis . ( It ’s believed that this was an effort to daub the girls ' reputation , and that medical investigators rent by U.S. Radium were pay to deduct their findings . )
The Radium Girls ' case was settle down in 1928 , put a swift end to shape paintbrushes with the mouth and open container of radium paint . Though atomic number 88 was still used in clocks until the sixties , new cases of sharp radiation syndrome in telephone dial painters came to a screeching halt , and soon after , so did the popularity of atomic number 88 - containing products and toys . The former U.S. Radium manufacture flora is now a Superfund site .
