Glow-in-the-dark watches worn by WW I soldiers in the trenches were the rage in the post-war years. U.S. Radium Corporation, a major defense contractor in Orange, NJ, marketed the luminous paint under the brand name “Undark. ” After the war, they hired 70 young women to paint watch dials for popular consumption. Although they knew the radium, the company told workers it was harmless. The women mixed glue, water, and powder made of radium and zinc oxide, then used camel hair brushes to apply paint onto the dial numbers. The brushes lost their shape after a few strokes so supervisors encouraged the women to point the tips with their lips or tongues to keep them sharp. After 3-5 years, the women began to suffer from anemia, bone fractures, and necrosis of the jaw. Known as the “radium girls” in lawsuits, many subsequently died. See “Undark” (winner of the Walter Sullivan Prize) in STORIES to learn more about this tragedy. Also check out BEHIND THE STORY for corollary information on this era.
