What is radium paints?

Radium paints are a type of luminescent paint that contain small amounts of radium-226, a radioactive element. They were first developed in the early 1900s and were widely used in the United States and Europe for painting watch dials, instrument panels, and aircraft gauges during World War I and II.

Radium paints were highly valued for their ability to glow in the dark without the need for an external light source and were marketed as safe and harmless, despite the fact that radium is a highly toxic substance. Workers who applied the paint to these products were not provided with protective gear and were even encouraged to lick their brushes to keep them pointed.

However, over time, it became clear that the radiation exposure from working with radium paints was causing serious health problems, including bone cancer, anemia, and necrosis of the jawbone. Exposure to radium has also been linked to an increased risk of other cancers and can result in severe damage to organs and tissues throughout the body.

As a result of these health concerns, the use of radium in paints and other products was eventually phased out in the 1960s. Today, luminescent paints are still used for a variety of purposes, but they are made using non-radioactive phosphors and other safe materials.