Who Were The Radium Girls?

[@Monicalia]

Imagine having your jaw broken off completely from just touching it, poor girl, I can't imagine how terrified she must have been :((

[@jaxintheboxoxo]

Most of them were high school/college age too, it’s awful for anyone of course but just thinking about some young girl my own age going through such a horrible and terrifying experience gets me choked up

[@elliegilmartin4222]

why did i just poke my jaw just to be safe?

[@We_Are_All_Vultures]

24.... And the pain... My goodness

[@Lilian-jc5ck]

Agreed. Having dreams of my teeth falling out are traumatising enough. I just hope that it was swollen to the point of interfering with her facial nerves or something so at least she wouldn't have had to experience pain.

[@Kayla-lz6ry]

To make matters worse the young women were told all the symptoms were due to STDs despite most of them being virgins, by doctors and lawyers working for the factories. So people shammed and blamed them instead

[@jaxintheboxoxo]

Not so fun fact: when the radium companies moved to different locations to avoid bad press after all this happened, they had to get rid of the radioactive tailings piled up in the backyards of their factories. Wanna know where it went? They sold in at a discounted price to sandbox companies who mixed it in with their sand and sold that to schools/parks for their playgrounds. If your family has lived in America for a while there’s a good chance your grandparents played in radioactive sand on their school playgrounds. And the companies knew about this. This was AFTER the deaths and the lawsuits. They just didn’t care. And we’re still paying the price for their selfish greed

[@mylifeafterbreakfast]

100%. In fact, when they tore down the New Jersey plant, the parts that weren't sold to other companies were just buried around the area. Suddenly people started getting cancer at alarming rates. The government started the clean-up in about the 1970s, I think. The last I heard they were still cleaning it up in 2015. There is still radium in the ground there and it is still making people sick.

[@meowiguess903]

I can't-

[@ejslax]

Wtf. This is even more disgusting.

[@monicahendricks8563]

All in the name of GREED.

[@alexiz0013]

@@mylifeafterbreakfast Omg, seriously?

[@adinafriedman2698]

Love how nothing got done until a man died even though women had suffered for so long, only to be silenced by the companies who were greedy and didn't care about the women who suffered every day.

[@libertyprime619]

Shouldn't have investigated at all

[@originalnilson]

@@libertyprime619 okay incel

[@melaniemunro6696]

it is revolting.

[@erinlefevers7302]

@@libertyprime619 tell me you're a virgin living in mom's basement, without telling me you're a virgin living in mom's basement 🙄

[@katelynb1665]

@@libertyprime619 that’s a disgusting point of view to have. it’s not about women or men, it’s about humanity as a whole. more than just these people could have been exposed to radium poisoning had there not been an investigation. innocent children, animals, elderly, entire families could have been lost and made to suffer. it’s sad that despite the progress we’ve made, there are still people like you who want to hate and degrade women based on personal biases. there is no superior sex, and THAT is the point of REAL feminism.

[@astrowolvez]

And it’s crazy how she carried radium with her everywhere and to this day no one can even read her notes because they’re so radioactivez

[@goodvibesandhealing]

Why dont they take a photo

[@NoraInu__]

@@goodvibesandhealing because radiation also ruins photos? Radiation affects everything

[@thismoment4life1]

@@NoraInu__ So she has these incredible notes from one of the biggest scientific discoveries in history and we can’t even read them?

[@StarSprangledBanner]

@@thismoment4life1 Those notes have been copied and preserved. The original notes are in the museum.

[@charliec123]

Her favourite cook book is also radioactive to this day. People need to wear proper protective gear in order to look at it. Apparently the banana bread recipe in it is amazing.

[@asksomeoneelse98]

A woman was dying of radiation poisoning and the doctor prescribes her aspirin? Sounds about right.

[@libertyprime619]

Take some robitussin

[@kenirainseeker539]

Doctors often don't take women's concerns seriously, our pain is just chalked up to "female problems" and they throw us an aspirin. If a doctor won't give you any tests, tell then to make note in your record that they refused to test you. They'll change their tune pretty quick.

[@libertyprime619]

@@kenirainseeker539 doctors to men: "oh it's fine just walk it off"

[@Kopivm]

@@libertyprime619 correction it's women

[@Kopivm]

@@libertyprime619 are you sure it's broken, or was it just sprained?

[@broadwaybrat1986]

It’s incredibly horrible what happened to these women! Especially knowing that some of the employers knew how harmful radium was.

[@tamaraproano260]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/houqhWurZdt6mtU

[@chxmpagneproblems]

The scientist who developed the paint, von Sochocky, knew how harmful radiation was to the point that, upon the discovery that radiation came into his finger, cut off the finger. He later went on to tell the girls that there was nothing unsafe about radium. It’s horrifying

[@jimmytimmy3680]

@J. C. Tobacco or Alcohol? People consume them like water

[@unusede8437]

Hahah Capitalism

[@FreakishFiend]

@@unusede8437 Capitalism at it's finest

[@nggirl01]

Not them marketing it as a "cure all" for ugliness 😭

[@rachelraquel758]

Imagine your Dr. saying “I’m prescribing this for your ugliness”.

[@looluh532]

@@rachelraquel758 understandable have a good day

[@jctolentino9436]

They only care beauties in woman they didnt even care about symptoms and just one man died they investigate and while other 50 woman died they didnt even what an idiots

[@ashleyshim2078]

@@jctolentino9436 IKR

[@yourlocalwaifu8601]

Opposite effect i want a refund

[@JanelleNilesComedy]

The imagery of the jaw-bone taking out without surgery because it was floating necrotized in the abscess, gave me chills.

[@jlut1630]

& they somehow let her live like that for 4 months like wtf is wrong with people. It's considered gossip until a man gets sick & dies they finally investigate... 🤧 so wrong for that

[@thebluecamomile]

And it’s heartbreaking to read after “at the age of 24”. So, so young

[@EVILED2]

Pure nightmare fuel

[@We_Are_All_Vultures]

@@jlut1630 with aspirin for pain??

[@EclecticallyEccentric]

@Southwestern Sunset The girl who died with the jaw abscess was white.

[@KE-ow2jg]

Did he just say that over 50 women died and they didn’t feel the need to investigate - but as soon as a 1 man died they decided that was the last straw 😐 can’t say I’m surprised...

[@Chumbucketsecret]

This is news to you? It fits the time frame maybe learn about history. Doesn’t make it right but it’s like painfully obvious

[@KE-ow2jg]

@@Chumbucketsecret you didn’t notice when I said “can’t say I’m surprised”? Nope. Not surprising - just unfortunate.

[@MusicalCoins]

That's what I said. Then I was called a man hater after... By a man of course.

[@KE-ow2jg]

@@MusicalCoins ofc!

[@dibel3669]

@@Chumbucketsecret my friend do you not read?

[@randihutchison6727]

Imagine knowing how toxic/dangerous something is but then encouraging/forcing your employees to put it in their mouth.

[@jumpmomongaable]

Same nowadays. We nurses and hospital employees are forced to get something very dangerous and we all are silenced/ penalized if we say “truth”.

[@bioex0rcist]

@@jumpmomongaable the covid vaccine is nowhere near similar to radium. You’re dense in the head

[@jasonbolding3481]

@@jumpmomongaable as a nurse you know vaccines aren't "very dangerous", to not lie about medical research. As for losing your job? Good just like a cook ignoring the health code shouldn't be cooking; neither should healthcare workers endanger the community

[@Solaire.Solaire]

@@jumpmomongaable you shouod be ashamed and fired for that belied If you’re a nurse and think the covid vaccine is Dangerous

[@astxrism8236]

They never said it was about the COVID vaccine..?

[@amym3154]

Did Buzzfeed really just not credit/name the narrator in the description? He's very talented and it's a shame we only know who he is because he's here in the comments.

[@neffada]

ikr!!

[@spaghetto9836]

I stopped expecting much from Buzzfeed since a long time ago 😒.

[@cakiepop7993]

I mean, they probably paid him for rights to this recording. At that point, credit would be a formality.

[@corarose999]

@@cakiepop7993 yes but isn’t exposure pretty emportant though? And just curtesy?

[@amym3154]

@Drumslav Czechisenko Funner fact for you: So are the vast majority of actors/actresses, narrators, producers, staff, etc you see if the credits of every TV show, movie or other KZbin video.

[@cruellworrld]

this really makes you think about things now a days that can be dangerous but corporations brand as fine

[@LeonieJMerry]

I think if we as humans only just discovered alcohol today, it would be banned. Not only does consistent use damage your body in the long-term, but it can have severe consequences in the short-term. Such as alcohol poisoning, irrational thoughts and lack of control, the impact on everyday things such as driving and childcare.... there's no way it would be legal if it were "new" now. The only reason governments still tolerate their people drinking it is good tax money.

[@TheNeekolee]

Teflon?

[@dontstalkme2405]

super true. only difference is that we have much more scientific research now, but still. lolol i’m sure they thought it was safe with whatever knowledge they had too

[@Earthworm4]

@@LeonieJMerry Absolutely agree! Alcohol is more dangerous than many narcotic substances (as long as they're pure, which you can't trust street drugs to be), and withdrawal from alcohol addiction can be deadly just on its own, which is not the case for some other drugs. Alcohol is a drug, and if it wasn't so ingrained in many cultures it would most likely be treated the same way for example cocaine is.

[@FooTude]

All the men on the committee should be held liable! Well not MEN at all!

[@erinturner9618]

I live in that Illinois town, LaSalle-Peru. I work in a nursing home and my residents lost their mothers and aunts and sisters to friends to Westclox. Some of my OLD oldies actually worked there and remember the riots and strikes. It runs so deep. The snow doesn’t stay on the victim’s graves. It becomes a pink/purple slush.

[@JamesTroupActor]

Makes me even more proud to give one more voice to their sacrifices.

[@We_Are_All_Vultures]

????

[@airbornemelody6156]

Oh my gosh that’s terrible.

[@ruchajoshi7122]

The snow becomes pink/purple?😳😳. That's terrifying.

[@gabriellarowden9442]

@@JamesTroupActor Thank you so much for this video !

[@RolyWestYT]

I honestly don’t know how we’ve managed to survive this long when you hear stories like this and other things in history we did that basically killed us

[@lunamooncat7926]

I'm surprised we survived the Victorian era. Seriously, when looking at world history there are so many bad ideas humans came up with that I'm genuinely curious how we didn't become extinct in any part of the world.

[@JeantheSecond]

We just keep popping out more of us.

[@noahwhitehawk3405]

Population control maybe?.. idk I just thought about this. Imagine how many time’s the world was overpopulated & needed to be a mass reduction in human lives because it was to hard on our planet. Think about it, there’s always been mass wars every generation or so.. they people that get sent to war usually end up dying & the people that stay home were poisoned like the radium girls, so it takes both parties out at the same time. While our governments are the only people that don’t suffer our fate.

[@noahwhitehawk3405]

PS.. FBI if you’re watching me, I’m just kidding. lol

[@LLANTALOBOTOMIK]

@@lunamooncat7926 can you elaborate on this? I'm curious

[@jaxintheboxoxo]

Not so fun fact: as the video mentions, after some time the radium girls would glow “from the inside out”. One of the ways this manifested was in their eyelids, they were so bright when they closed their eyes they couldn’t fall asleep and sleep deprivation was common among the girls

[@davidlachman7608]

Damn

[@itgetsworse601]

I can't imagine how bad that must've been

[@stevepalpatine2828]

Damn. Turning into a Glowing One.

[@bio.sophia]

RIP radium girls, thank you for fighting for worker's rights and standing up for the health of women working in these factories everywhere.

[@JamesTroupActor]

Hey everyone, it’s THE VOICE behind these videos. Just wanted to say thanks for listening, and I hope you all learned as much as I did while doing this one! RIP Radium Girls…

[@lorib360]

Wow - great voice! I enjoyed your reading - thanks!

[@salinium]

You have a great voice for these videos, keep it up! ❤❤❤

[@dianaa9826]

Sir, what a great voice you have !!Looking forward to hearing more of your "voice behind videos" in the future.. Cheers...

[@kbrock9146]

You are doing an amazing job! Thank you!

[@imsno7222]

Your voice is awesome! Love them on these videos!

[@lylanewman5461]

the fact that investigation wasn’t started until a male employee died just kinda gives me a sad reminder of how men are just always placed before women.

[@Earthworm4]

I remember they discontinued birth control pills for men because they induced period-like symptoms. But it's completely fine that millions of women are at risk of blood clots and mental illness from the pill :/ Edit: by mental illness I mean symptoms of anxiety and depression, which are common side effects in case someone didn't know

[@Luke-4929]

i think it was fucked by now but how do you still think its like that now?

[@JWBruh-qi1yx]

@@Earthworm4 There also was a response from the public that it wasn't wanted. There wasnt enough demand to justify putting funding into it.

[@chrisprilloisebola]

taken out of context btw

[@s1ash1]

Cry about it

[@Ari_elf95]

Okay the story about the doctor taking out that girls jaw with his hand with haunt me forever

[@Moriartea_chan]

I'm so f angry that they started doing the investigation only after the male employer 's death.

[@astrowolvez]

Right! And the way it never changes.

[@sikly_frsh]

Ikrrrr people love brushing off women’s claims

[@jemand7488]

Feminist activated

[@Moriartea_chan]

@@jemand7488 you say it as if it's a bad thing.. so I guess.. ok, boomer

[@libertyprime619]

@@sikly_frsh doesnt happen much now a days

[@StarWarsThrowbacks]

Side note: I really like this dude’s voice. It’s perfect for a podcast or audio book.

[@kaelyn5426]

he actually has a youtube channel! his name is James Troup and i’m pretty sure i saw comment from him some where under the video of you wanna check him out!

[@JamesTroupActor]

Thank you! I might just do an audio book at some point! 🙂

[@StarWarsThrowbacks]

@@JamesTroupActor PLEASE

[@StarWarsThrowbacks]

@@kaelyn5426 Sweet, thank you!

[@4lither]

@@JamesTroupActor do it

[@imconfused6955]

Note to self: if there's ever a drug that claims to cure everything, avoid it at all costs

[@lunamooncat7926]

That's good advice regardless of topic. Don't trust anyone who claims to be able to heal short of everything.

[@gamboarocky89]

The bible

[@nekonomicon2983]

Yeah I'll just let someone else take it and see what happen

[@Svizra26]

Humera

[@trentbateman]

You mean weed

[@keab2105]

So... they gave protective garments and tools to the male lab employees that helped them distance themselves from the substance but taught the poor, lower class females how to lick it up and then looked them in the eye and lied when they asked if this was safe to do. Classism and sexism at its finest.

[@iKassie2002]

I think, men are valuable resource back then due to war 🤣

[@Abu_Brandino]

Feminism was designed by greedy corporate men to push women into the workforce as lesser grunts when they could’ve been safe at home with their loving husbands and not fallen to this horrific fate.

[@ryleymcclure7515]

Had an old coworker who’s wife was severely messed up to working in a factory where they made mercury thermometers. Couldn’t walk, couldn’t talk, was paralyzed from the neck down. She could make some weird “ha” noises when she was happy or trying to laugh but that’s about it. Definitely very sad

[@sjorsdewit4325]

It's sad that everyone ignored the true cause of death of the women who worked at the factory until a male who worked there died too

[@hannahstahl1857]

Woman: dies Everyone: meh you’re fine Man: coughs Everyone: oh no we gotta fix this immediately

[@jmiekim7010]

And nowadays I can say that it’s opposite :/

[@leonardodavinci2631]

@@jmiekim7010 bro I wish

[@distanctive4768]

@@jmiekim7010 you forget that other countries exist- Women get hunted for sport in some places 😳

[@acklesis]

@@jmiekim7010 women are literally stoned to death for being raped in some countries 😕 wym opposite?

[@lindaeasley5606]

Incredible how they had their male workers take precautions but straight up lied to the women.They were responsible for the death of those women and should have gone to prison for a long time

[@elisemattie1502]

one of my high school's fall shows was the Radium Girls, and it was such a heartbreaking and emotional play. it's so hard to think about what those poor girls when through

[@victoria3011]

That’s some very heavy subject matter for a high school play. Good for you for taking it on!

[@uhhhsabrina9359]

Same!!

[@jaxintheboxoxo]

My school also did radium girls! I had the honor of being in it, it really opened my eyes to this little known piece of awful history, but I’m so glad I learned about these poor girls stories instead of not knowing at all

[@rebrandedidiot]

Same here!! I loved the show

[@LASHULADECHIHUAS]

This is so sad. That detailed story on how her jaw broke off. Omg that got to me

[@Wetkimchee]

This really just hammers home the point that a company would literally market poison as a soft drink if they could make a profit from it

[@Leeky_Cauldron]

oh yea, like cocaine in Coca Cola?

[@cosmicallis7936]

Read the food labels on the majority of foods, this hasn't stopped, not even close...

[@drewmckinney7843]

They sold the idea to DoD as well, countless soldiers wore radioactive watches. Not the only time military leadership said something horrendous and damaging was a great idea, even knowing it was wrong

[@arianawolff1359]

They HAVE marketed poison as a soft drink you mean

[@rockstepguy3524]

Well, in those times they also sold radioactive water as a "health tonic" so, it's pretty close.

[@yes_this_is_saeko]

"It can actually add years to our lives" Little did they know, it took away years

[@sasariwtf]

Did you miss the whole point of this? They did know.

[@ulisesportillo54]

@@sasariwtf They're talking in the perspective of the general public. Only the people who experimented with it and those that sold it knew of what Radium could do.

[@hanquokkassi]

I think they meant "It can actually add years to our next lives"

[@yes_this_is_saeko]

@@hanquokkassi someone gets it!

[@drewmckinney7843]

Scary to think about.

[@jackiemattos6677]

I'm really surprised there aren't more comments about the former employers STEALING their BONES. They wouldn't even let them rest in peace.

[@mr.bullionnaire9748]

Just like big tobacco companies throwing out studies that went against their plan

[@europeangardenflower9812]

And the fossil fuel industry for denying cause of climate change.

[@krishab5908]

Tobacco is different. Its the peoples choice to consume it or not. Its literally printed on packages that it deadly but you cant just make them understand the consumers

[@Dana-ki6vs]

Kind of ridiculous how in the last few years I’ve seen stores not only take vapes off their shelves but restock cigarettes in place of them, even though cigarettes are probably 20x more harmful. These big companies are greedy, and they don’t care if it harms people.

[@Bettersucksaul]

@@krishab5908 You're misunderstanding, back in the 1980s tobacco industry tried extremely hard to make tobacco seem like a good thing, including threatening researchers who countered their claims, sponsorships and ads with dentists, cartoons, doctors etc, and buying out more to produce "research" that proves that tobacco is dangerous for your health. Tobacco has that sign on the package because of the public outrage and pressure that happened when people began to develop cancers and when the surgeon general of the US officially recognized the health risks of tobacco. Obviously the fault of those who smoke tobacco even knowing what we know lies on themselves now, but back then big tobacco had a huge influence in our politics and media and they really pushed it as a safe product to unknowing masses.

[@harlequinems]

Ahhh corporate America.... Where the truth can be changed by the dollar and lives are worth less than consumer goods. Not much has changed.

[@libertyprime619]

Better than communism and women being raped by officials for a loaf of bread

[@3ghin5]

Well said

[@philp3786]

So much has changed....

[@StephanieQuiroz-ps9nl]

@@libertyprime619 look! a capitalist

[@Klee36911]

@@libertyprime619 amen💅

[@hawk6365]

Woman: literally loses her jaw just by touching it Company: look take some aspirin and stop wasting our time -_- Man: Sneezes Company: OMG THIS IS HORRIBLE ABSOLUTELY AWFUL SOMEONE GET THE MILITARY AND HELP THIS DUDE! OMG OMG OMG

[@zBIGFRIIZZz]

A company peddling a product that they know is harmful to its workers and others? As American as apple pie.

[@libertyprime619]

As should be

[@savannahstargaze]

He’s definitely like 11 LMAO

[@themightypizzadevourer6018]

@@libertyprime619 the sad life of a troll

[@UnluckyOctopus]

Wait it said there were factories in Canada too. What happened there? So had to dig with google but looks like Canada didn’t stop till the 1970s, unlike the US though it seems like the history for them was quietly swept under the rug.

[@drewmckinney7843]

Around and to children no less.

[@laurahess3417]

My Grandfather worked on maintenance and repair of several kinds of aircraft during World War 2. One of the main things he did was working with all the various dials. He later had to have his larynx removed due to a tumor the size of a grapefruit. Makes me wonder if any of that was because of radium.

[@finnsilly]

If you are interested in this topic, I would absolutely recommend the book The Radium Girls, by Kate Moore! The subject matter is clearly incredibly dark and upsetting, but it gives more details about the dial painters' ailments and their legal fights for justice.

[@raiyoucansave15withgeico79]

I will probably buy the book ,and this aside, your V Flower pfp is superior hsjdhakhdeh

[@julieornelas3787]

I watched the film on Netflix! Still excellent and nightmarish for the Radium girls that were suffering! 😭

[@samiam7360]

If you don’t want to buy the book Rotten Mango podcast has a really good dive into it based off the book

[@arenee118]

Yes, highly recommended.

[@LastMineCrafterz]

I remember having an entire day spent in my chemistry class just talking about them. Good times, not for them. But good times.

[@tamaraproano260]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/houqhWurZdt6mtU

[@suzyeide2320]

😅😂

[@mrphauker]

Sounds like a great chemistry class, as many as possible need to be educated about things like this. Doctors can be evil.

[@starsoffyre]

8:17 I recently got a throbbing toothache and was panicking because I couldn't find emergency dental services. But this is a whole different level...I can't imagine the pain she must have gone through

[@dhrgkbqxtjr2743]

How does a person live for 4 months without a lower jaw???? 🥺🥺🥺 That sounds like a fate worse than death

[@ijornhribrudkrvir]

Seriously, I can't imagine how scared she must have been

[@svalerie.001]

What an awful way to go

[@drewmckinney7843]

Radium is just an ore that generates what many other things do, ionizing radiation, of which there is no healthy dose. Ionizing radiation destroys, making it effective against cancer and pretty much.. everything else. Have to stay away from it and if you can, wear sunscreen :>

[@lillianlilo7447]

She didn't. She died a few days later from hemorrhage.

[@kas8ia]

@@drewmckinney7843 what does your comment have to do with anything that person said

[@justineharper3346]

The fate of these poor women is one of the most horrific things I’ve ever heard

[@Prettykittychimi]

This was very well done! Just a suggestion: I assume there was some stock imagery. It would be helpful if it said on the screen when it is real footage, thanks.

[@vallifunk2695]

Agreed. I recognized one video was from an old vintage makeup tutorial and had nothing to do with the content

[@jaxintheboxoxo]

I’ve done a lot of research into these girl because I was cast as Grace Fryer in my high schools production of the play Radium Girls. One of the things I learned about in my studies was just how widespread radium was used a miracle cure for everything from headaches to arthritis. One of the worst cases I saw was a man who drank a bottle of ‘Radithor’ (a radium water blend marketed as a medicinal tonic) every single day. After a while, his ENTIRE JAW ROTTED OFF HIS FACE. And the worst part? He was still alive. There are pictures you can look up of this poor man who was walking around with the entire lower half of his face just GONE. Rotted away. Still an open wound and incredibly painful. Truly horrifying

[@gabriellastone779]

I'm auditioning for radium girls tonight

[@shortlife-longday]

Ebyn Byers

[@thomasjewell7728]

-That's his name.@@shortlife-longday

[@M1dfielder]

Yes, shocking. He looked appalling poor man.

[@maxantti]

Rest In Peace radium girls, such a sad story I’m glad they’re getting the recognition they deserve

[@FreakishFiend]

I remember learning about these women and girls from a show called something like "Dark Matters, Twisted But True". In the show, they didn't emphasize enough that the companies knew the poisoning was happening from the beginning. Honestly, this is just an example of capitalism at it's finest.

[@JoliNatural]

Reminds me of tobacco & asbestos company practices, as well as meat, dairy, sweat shops, slave labour, hazardous ingredients in skin care. Not much has changed when it comes to profits over people.

[@We_Are_All_Vultures]

So many companies right up until this day... Pouring chemicals into the water etc. Some companies that still exist. Thinking of Teflon... And one of those chemicals can still be found in everyday items like floss, pizza containers.. it's impossible to avoid... Look it up

[@We_Are_All_Vultures]

Here's an easy to swollen version kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5uoiqyCe9l9mcU

[@themightypizzadevourer6018]

Yep

[@byletheisner8269]

reminds me of micro plastics and artificial sweeteners and preservatives

[@iloverelaxbear]

Facts

[@sapphosdescendants3997]

For everyone asking about Ryan and Shane, they have their own channel with Steven called ‘Watcher’. They’ve mentioned they’ll shoot more Unsolved when it’s safe to travel and as they’ve done two true crime seasons in a row it’ll probably be supernatural. For now, Watcher is their main channel. Please stop asking about them in every single comments section- it’s really disrespectful to the people who work hard on these videos and it’s disrespectful to Ryan and Shane, they have careers outside of Buzzfeed and they’ve been working really hard on their new company! Give them some credit!

[@laladoo]

Thank you for this! I was getting kinda worried for what happened to them

[@sapphosdescendants3997]

@@laladoo No problem! I was confused for a while too

[@Daddyme92]

Steven is a man sex symbol

[@thelovelysunshine1]

@Step Raz Do you just like using big words?

[@sapphosdescendants3997]

@Step Raz I’m really not interested in getting into a debate with you over this, but for the record I never assumed or asserted that everyone was ‘privy’ to that information- that’s literally why I posted this comment, so that people who didn’t know could be aware. And frankly, it is disrespectful for people to speak over someone’s content just to ask about someone else’s. You don’t have to be upset over that statement! It’s an inconsiderate thing to do and I posted this to lessen those kinds of comments- I’m not saying anyone who asked about Ryan and Shane eternally morally reprehensible, I’m just letting them know where the new content is and asking them to consider how their comments might make others feel. If you’re getting worked up over that, you’re probably part of a broader social problem

[@shivercanada]

My friend actually has a Baby Ben by Westclox from that time period and it is still very radioactive 648cpm on just a quick test. He had a video on his KZbin but I don’t know if it’s still there.

[@carissag1821]

What's his handle? I'd like to checkn

[@gautham9407]

@@carissag1821 ya me to

[@caoimhecoyne7879]

I'd love to know too

[@ineffablelenn5725]

Me too🚶‍♀️

[@astrowolvez]

This went on until the 60s!?! Who would even buy a radioactive watch after this?

[@mnemeikyu9299]

I mean, who would smoke either knowing the risks?

[@haandotexe]

Thank you!!! I've had a morbid fascination with the story of the Radium Girls ever since I did a scene from the play based off the book called "These Shining Lives" and I'm so happy there's a more comprehensive history behind it in this video! As someone that's done a lot of research on this case I couldn't have said it better myself, you even taught me about details I wasn't fully aware of!

[@bethanyb4168]

I also had a fascination with these women as well. I read the book “Radium Girls” in high school & have never heard many people who know about them!

[@jaxintheboxoxo]

After my school performed Radium Girls and I played Grace Fryer the radium girls have become one of my hyperfixations/special interests. I know so much about them and I love learning more. It’s such a sad story and one we can do well by continuing to learn from today

[@savannawithoutanh5973]

There would have been a very simple test to see if they were lying. All the company executives should have consumed radium each day. If the executives refuse to do it, then you know there's a problem. If only it was that easy.

[@justdecaffeinated]

"oh her jaw bone deteriorated so bad it was removable by hand with no tools, it's definitely syphilis!" "these women are just trying to gain financial assistance by dying during their employment!" good lord

[@thesilentkid2593]

The girl screaming,vomiting and cant walk Doctor: WANNA GET ASPIRIN!? Edit: Jeez tysm for likes

[@ejslax]

I get this is a joke, but to be fair, not a lot of doctors at the time know how to treat any symptom pertaining to radiation poisoning. Actually, even up to this day, ordinary physicians are not really that trained to handle radiation burns and such.

[@Eren-sk4kq]

Nurse: Nah, ICE

[@ryanstewart9702]

Anyone interested. I've seen calculations of these girls receiving anywhere from 400-9000 Rem(4-90 SV) in a year concentrated from their head. That is a lot btw. To put that in perspective, American Nuke workers have a 5 Rem limit for the year.

[@cloubee2897]

Jesus Christ that’s so bad

[@angelicaplummer7427]

Thank you for you're sharing of that perspective. It speaks to the gravity and significance of remembering, honoring, vigilence, and action.

[@PassionPi]

I really enjoy the visual style of this video. The narrator is great too!

[@JamesTroupActor]

I’m the narrator, and thank you for watching!

[@tamaring2108]

James you’re the perfect candidate for Calm’s sleep stories series. I hope your voiceover work extends into other areas. I could listen for hours.

[@maddie.loves.pickles]

and society still doesn't take women's health seriously because of this sexism

[@waterkirby6779]

Are you feminist 🤔

[@Loverrover]

@steph.annie.m No.

[@BB-gl7qh]

Society definitely is way more in tuned with women’s issues than ever before lol

[@lamijadurakovic9410]

@@BB-gl7qh i will not settle for anything less than $1k a month just for existing in a female body thanks

[@berries922]

@@waterkirby6779 yes

[@sapphire13579]

Every one of the owners of those companies and their representatives should have been force fed radium in prison and then left to experience the hell the employees went through. Punishment befitting their crimes.

[@goblinbabe]

I agree. Arresting someone for a heinous act is accountability, what happens after is justice.

[@seabase3362]

Bones glowing in the dark sounds like a cool party trick

[@tarnishedhuman]

LMAO NO 🤣

[@Earthworm4]

glowstick bones! The ol' crack 'n glow

[@jaxintheboxoxo]

When my school theatre put on Radium Girls that was the running joke with the cast lol, whenever we cracked our knuckles/popped out backs etc. there was always something said about glow stick bones 😂

[@girishnaithani4221]

Call it a "rave in the grave"

[@pufocina]

"Yo, check me out my bones are glowing! Also I have 3 days to live, but look how cool my bones are!"

[@cultshepard4215]

It's so sickening how these men owning these businesses/firms didn't care about anyone. How can you be a business owner and have people getting sick and dying due to the work you offer, and to lie and cheat when the truth is coming out? Appalling.

[@ferretrunner09]

Most CEOs of large corporations are either psychopaths or have psychopathic traits.

[@woolenhat5796]

Reading the book about Radium Girls by Kate Moore. It's absolutely fantastic to and honestly made me speechless

[@winters0lider976]

I always suggest this book! It's wonderful!

[@c.hansen3139]

I'm reading it right now. Incredibly well-written and completely horrifying.

[@M1dfielder]

Best book I've read in years. I had to keep stopping and Googling fact-checking and looking at the press and photos of the time and it was worse than I imagined. A survivor of Radium Dials was interviewed about the 70s, its on KZbin, she was lucky, she left in time to avoid permanent poisoning but the graves she showed us are hugely radioactive. It's even unsafe to open the back of one of those old watches. 😮

[@belle3421]

I know a lot about these women and the company. My parents have a theater company and did a play about these women and what they had to go through. I helped a lot with the play, sending my mom on interviews with workers and documentaries about them. We even visited the town where it happened. Seeing this makes me so happy. More people are getting to know their story!

[@patricelinman7183]

This story was adapted into a play and I did it in high school. Still one of my favorite shows I ever did because it was so moving and heartbreaking. It was such a tragic and important story and we were all so passionate to do this story justice.

[@lizcrosthwait5949]

Just watched Bailey Sarians video on the Dupoint chemical poisoning. Reminded me of the radium girls. Crazy to think things like this happen way more often than we think

[@raven-chan2071]

I just finished that too

[@kellyb.3600]

On Netflix, The Devil We Know? Whatever, there is a documentary about Teflon and Dupont. Very scary what is allowed!

[@MF99K]

imagine having to sue someone for killing you

[@izzypotato70]

so unfair that the men got protective gear while it was promoted as a "trend" for women..

[@Avalanche616]

The only justice that could be done is to feed that president of US Radium, Board, And managers "radium soup" for seven years.

[@rhea6927]

to "add years to their lives" of course

[@raven-chan2071]

Her jaw came off? That makes me so sad. That must’ve been so painful :(

[@Housewarmin]

We look back and think how mistaken these people were. I wonder what new trend in 2021 will be looked back on as ridiculous and deadly.

[@Earthworm4]

Probably vaping :/ the way it's been marketed in the last few years is pretty bad. Still better than cigarettes, but so many teens who never smoked tobacco started vaping because it's "cool"

[@adrianjames6552]

Not wearing a mask and not getting vaccinated

[@ohnobud8392]

@@Earthworm4 yea, and there's hard evidence that vaping (particularly the chemical-laden cartridges for juuls) rapidly causes lung illness that we don't fully understand, yet people still try to push it as a healthier alternative to smoking

[@vallifunk2695]

My conspiracy is that it will be Marijuana. All the studies saying it can prevent cancer, help adhd, etc. I believe it has benefits but nobody talks about the way it induces psychosis or other brain damaging affects. Of course it effects everyone differently I'm sure. It just seems too good to be true. It's a rapidly growing industry.

[@katkatkat3875]

for me it's the easy use of pesticides like roundup / glyphosate. we're actually killing off biodiversity. but hey - as long as money is being made...

[@oneeyedchimp573]

Still think these corporations have our best interests in mind??? That’s who’s really funding some research and controlling our legal system/government/finances! 🙃

[@libertyprime619]

Just as should be

[@3ghin5]

Yep, and puppeteering political leaders with their funding

[@LeonieJMerry]

*cough* NRA

[@libertyprime619]

@@LeonieJMerry I don't think... you know what the NRA is

[@hannahthrupp9399]

@@LeonieJMerry Do you...even know what the NRA means?

[@emmamakesbadart]

The new version of this is microplastic except its effecting everyone and not just factory workers

[@robo-roger7815]

Yup! Avoid seafood and liquids in plastic

[@europeangardenflower9812]

It's in your shampoo and your toothpaste, your make up...

[@chxmpagneproblems]

i just started reading this book omg. it’s very heavy and a lot to take in, but worth a read

[@mya5364]

Thanks for the recommendation - just purchased the audiobook

[@chxmpagneproblems]

@@mya5364 I hope you like it! I’ve been wanting to read it for a long time so glad to finally be doing so

[@alexisflowers5069]

Omg that poor girl with the jaw removal story! Idk if it's because i'm her age she died at but wow I can't even imagine how scared, confused, in pain she was up until the end I MEAN COME ON SYPHILIS?!?! REALLY!!!...

[@emeliakay5528]

You have no idea how many years I’ve been waiting for this!!

[@JamesTroupActor]

Glad we could bring it to you!

[@emeliakay5528]

@@JamesTroupActor You’re a fantastic narrator, thank you for your work!

[@lovely1641]

Those poor girls. They just thought they had a nice job

[@dustin1481]

The womans jaw story was also like the man who always drank “Radithor” which was just radium and water at the time, also caused his whole jaw to fall off and then was surgically removed but then died after radiation poisoning.

[@ep576]

This immediately made me think of the PG&E case, featured in Erin Brockovich, and how they fed misinformation concerning the groundwater contamination to that entire town in Hinkley. It’s so sad that these same destructive actions from corporations continue without any concern for human life.

[@joncampos-cw2tk]

My grandmother had an alarm clock that glowed green in the dark. I loved the sound it made and would stare at it because of the cool color.

[@M1dfielder]

Yep I remember one we had too. Nowadays they say if you have an old watch with radium, it's not even safe to repair because of taking the back off it.

[@Adrian-zd4cs]

Honestly, this was a better, concise production of information than the movie. Good job y'all 💕

[@bethrobertson4384]

Lololol aspirin for rheumatism. Ignoring the fact that wasn't what the problem was at all, aspirin doesn't do a god damn thing for rheumatism.

[@lyndsann3309]

Aspirin... for horrible agonizing pain... disgusting people

[@kirin1230]

It'll shut up the hysterical women and their nonsensical pain and emotions... I'm guessing that's the thought back then. Their woes wouldn't be taken seriously.

[@AwesomeIan135]

As for the lip dip thing, I feel as though even if the factory owners were genuinely unaware of any consequences of the radium, I still feel like there would have been a better solution that would have actually been more cost efficient (after all any radium ingested is radium lost). One easy thing Incan think of is just storing the radium glue in a container with a funnel-esque lid so that when the brush is lifted up the tip stays narrowed.

[@katkatkat3875]

nah, don't think that's true. they simply didn't care. he even mentioned that male collegues had more protection :/

[@bbrenew1938]

And also it is way more cost effective to keep good workers healthy and happy to save cost on training and keep quality high.

[@ALT-vz3jn]

@@bbrenew1938they didn’t care about the workers back then. If one died just replace them. That’s the way they treated female workers.

[@aubriannataylor]

or just use a smaller brush

[@lunar-firefly]

This is awful like so many things in our history. We learned a lot thanks to the people (especially the women) who had the courage to stand up against big corporations. I feel we should take more from them than their stories in modern days where we're facing similar long term impacts from greed over the well being of human lives.

[@sadlittleghost8346]

Back then, it seems like any time some new kind element or mineral was discovered, people immediately assumed it was some magical cure all.

[@linaaviles1971]

It took a male employee’s death for there to actually be an investigation... great.

[@s1ash1]

Cry

[@acklesis]

@@s1ash1 male.

[@s1ash1]

@@acklesis is the dishwasher gonna cry😢😢

[@mountainhun]

By pure coincidence, this morning I was watching a video about the Chernobyl Elephant Foot, and I felt like I wanted to look up the Radium Girls again. :P

[@NyikoDoris]

women painting the dials: we don't feel well and it might have to do with the radium and you knew all about it companies: how can we make this THEIR fault 🤔

[@sriprakhyapochiraju9498]

I knew about this before...it is horrifying...but hey....radium girls sounds like a cool band's name! EDIT: Not being offensive here!

[@2ney717]

bro thats dark

[@sriprakhyapochiraju9498]

@@2ney717 ik..of course it is...but there are many bands with dark names out there....but it doesn't necessarily mean their work is dark right....I meant in that perspective

[@sriprakhyapochiraju9498]

@Ashwini Desai maybe metal idk

[@sriprakhyapochiraju9498]

Cause like death metal bands have those kinda names

[@Earthworm4]

@@sriprakhyapochiraju9498 A punk band could work well too, since punk bands often bring up the negative effects of capitalism and "radium girls" is a strong statement. So less dark in that way, more activism instead

[@kingcockroach.]

Everytime i hear about this im shocked and devistated anew

[@kick791]

Fun fact: the u.s. radium corporation site is now a soccer field.

[@angelicaplummer7427]

.. ain't that a kicker

[@mysticalmagic9259]

@@angelicaplummer7427 ha... ha...

[@angelaloof852]

That is scary

[@kirkkek]

*women dying* "GOSSIP!" *a man dies* "SOMETHING IS WRONG" typical

[@j5nephews558]

The moral of the story is not to believe what ANYBODY tells you if it goes against your own feelings or common sense!

[@Noneofyourbusiness57817]

Cough cough the covid vaxx cough cough

[@ZxCv134-n3b]

​@@Noneofyourbusiness57817 shut up

[@Yhabd87579jd]

It's so sad that all the girls' deaths were dismissed until a guy died. People back then didn't treat women as people.

[@vanessac1721]

Jeez Louise. How are humans still alive as a species?

[@Lonewolfmike]

I saw a story on these ladies some years ago and what happened to them was HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was CRIMINAL what happened to them.

[@DieselDucy]

This was very informative!

[@curtiswilson3569]

Sadly, Radium Corp existed in some form until 2007 and Radium dial still did damage with Radium until 1978. They should have been shut down, destroyed, and put to the sword for what they did to these workers.

[@spidey_things]

Gotta love how it took a man to get sick from radiation for that one doctor to make a case study against radiation. Like a womans entire jaw falling off from a simple touch wasnt enough.

[@meloncholy413]

Bruh I know lol I heard that

[@GeneSv]

Imagine being a girl in that time, I would have gone for the job since it pays well and new element = cool and exciting. It's scary to look back and see how things went wrong.

[@freebie808]

The level of evil required to keep this scam up is abhorrent and troublesome.

[@WhySoPrettyJinsoul.]

This was a great video, the narration and editing were good

[@supersophisticated9943]

THE LAST RADIUM GIRL LIVED TO THE AGE OF 107?! WOW!

[@bradwillis7415]

And that's the sort of exception that evil corporations use to say "See! How harmful could it be!"