In the early 1900s, "...most people thought radium was some kind of miracle elixir that could cure cancer and many other medical problems," states Mark Neuzil. This misinformation was endorsed and spread by companies in the early 20th century. Due to many lawsuits, strong social advocates within the journalism community and many unnecessary deaths, we now know how deadly radium can be.
Facts
Radium is abbreviated Ra, has 88 electrons on the Periodic Table of the Elements, and is a highly radioactive earth alkaline metal. The half-life of radium is 1,600 years. "Radium was discovered by Madame Marie Sklodowska Curie, a Polish chemist, and Pierre Curie, a French chemist, in 1898," states the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Companies used to sell liquid radium elixirs that were guaranteed to help people live healthier lives, demonstrates Mark Neuzil.
History
Women who worked with radium glowed in the dark and used to paint their nails and teeth with radium, explains Mark Neuzil, because they believed radium had no harmful side effects. However, the scientific community knew of the dangers of radium and ensured they handled it while wearing appropriate protective gear. News coverage eventually exposed to the general public that radium poisoning was deadly and Marie Curie later died of it in 1934.
Function
Radium has been used in the past to illuminate clock hands and dials. Today, radium has many beneficial medical uses including being used in X-ray machines. In minute quantities, radium is used to treat cancer and other disorders. "Lead is a final product of disintegration," further states Los .
Identification
Radium can be extracted from uranium wastes, and small amounts of radium were discovered in pitchblende by Madame Curie. Rich ore deposits have been located in the Great Lakes Region of Ontario, Canada, as well as in Australia, New Mexico, Utah, the Republic of Zaire and other locations. "The pure metal is brilliant white when freshly prepared, but blackens on exposure to air," explains Los Alamos National Security. Radium is luminescent, decomposes in water and gives a red color to flame.
Effects
"Inhalation, injection, or body exposure to radium can cause cancer and other body disorders," claims Los Alamos National Security. The Curies' notebooks that were used in their research of radium remain highly radioactive to this day and cannot be safely handled, further contends Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.
Tags: Alamos National, Alamos National Security, Mark Neuzil, National Security, Accelerator Facility, cancer other