Radium Girls Report
The Radium Girls were female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from using
self-luminous paint. The girls were instructed to point their brushes on their lips to give a finer
tip, subsequently they ingested dangerous amounts of radium. They were told it was harmless.
Part A:
Write a paragraph explaining:
-
What radium was being used for in the factory
The initial concerns from the workers
The response from the company
The more significant concerns for the workers
The response from the company
Part B
Choose one of the Radium Girls and outline:
-
How old they were and how long they were working there
What did they endure in regards to Radiation Poisoning
How were they treated or helped?
How could they have been treated better?
Part C
The factory workers should not have been told it was harmless if they didn’t know the actual
impacts.
Write a statement that the company should have given the workers prior to commencing their
job. Remember they didn’t know it was harmful at this stage.