Radium Poisoning
March 1932
in “
Journal of the American Medical Association
”

TLDR Radium exposure causes severe health issues, so strict safety measures are essential.
The document "RADIUM POISONING" from March 26, 1932, details the severe health effects of radium exposure in workers, particularly those in luminous dial painting, since 1924. It reports cases of bone disease, jaw necrosis, anemia, alopecia, cranial nerve palsies, and respiratory failure, primarily due to the practice of pointing brushes with lips. Despite efforts to mitigate these hazards through improved ventilation and mechanical processes, some workers still showed signs of radium exposure, though less severe. The document emphasizes the need for stringent safety measures to prevent radium poisoning, highlighting that even low levels of exposure should be minimized to prevent long-term health effects.