Ross Mullner

This was a really interesting but terribly sad story about the women who painted glow in the dark numerals on watches back in the 1920's. They used Radium and back then, people didn't know (or chose to ignore) the health consequences of exposure to radiation. Many, if not most, of these women, died horrible deaths.

I had first heard about these women a few years ago in another book I read and I decided to learn more. It's the story about typical corporations - oh, we're not responsible - no, show more you can't sue us because you can't prove it - oh, the statute of limitations is up - and other normal corporate BS. Makes you angry! But if this tragedy hadn't happened then more people would have died. This got people's attention to the deleterious effects of radiation on people and forced safety standards at factories.

Well researched book. The author worked at the Center for Human Radiobiology. I only wish there were MORE stories and MORE detail. I was curious as to the effects of the radium on the worker's husbands and children. Many of them were highly radioactive and with every breath they expelled radon. What happened to those around them? Their children born after they were exposed? The Center followed many of these women for years. Although we are treated to a list of their ages and their cause of death and year in the appendix, the chapter on the follow-up is very brief. Patient confidentiality? I'm not sure.

Recommended if you want to learn about a little known fact about our history and the history of radioactive substances in the U.S. show less