The Ottawa, Illinois Radium Girls: The Story That Changed Worker Safety

Ottawa, Illinois Told Women to Lick Radioactive Paint At first glance, Ottawa, Illinois is a quiet river town with historic streets and small-town charm. But beneath that peaceful image lies the story of one of the most shocking industrial disasters in American history. In this episode of Yore Town, Matt and Megh explore the rise of the radium dial industry, the young women who were instructed to "lip, dip, paint" glowing watch dials, and the devastating health effects they unknowingly suffered after being exposed to radioactive paint. You'll hear the remarkable story of Katherine Donahue, whose determination helped expose the truth and forever changed the way occupational diseases were recognized in American workplaces. In this episode: Why radium was once considered a scientific miracle How watch dial painters were unknowingly poisoned The tragic reality of "radium jaw" Katherine Donahue's historic legal battle Why radioactive contamination remained in Ottawa for decades How this forgotten story changed worker safety laws in the United States If you enjoy forgotten history, small-town mysteries, and the strange, dark, and unbelievable true stories of real places, be sure to follow Yore Town for new episodes every week. Follow Yore Town New episodes every week featuring the strange, dark, and unbelievable true stories of real places. Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@YoreTownPodcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.