What does birthmark removal have in common with John Wayne and shoe-fitting? How about glow-in-the-dark paint and treatment for ear infections?
The hazards of radiation have not always been acknowledged. Consider these five examples of what happens when we fail to practice precaution when it comes to ionizing radiation, lessons that may prove valuable when we consider the proliferation of non-ionizing radiation.
Historical Hazards of Radiation
1. Radiation for Shoe-Fitting
Shoe-fitting fluoroscopes were invented in the 1920s as a way to ensure a proper shoe fit, especially for children. Two portholes enabled the parent and sales assistant to observe the child’s toes.
It was the perfect way to get perfect fitting shoes. However, you were getting a hefty dose of radiation with only a 1 mm aluminum filter between you and the x-ray tube. Concern for safety slowly grew over the next 20 years.
As early as 1950 researchers were urging caution:
“The principal potential danger is interference with bone growth in children as a result of careless use or uncontrolled dosage of x-ray. . . The growing probability of increasing use of ionizing radiations warrants vigorous governmental control or possible elimination of procedures of questionable merit which involve public risk.”
(See The Shoe-Fitting Fluoroscope as a Radiation Hazard.)
By 1970, these x-ray units were prohibited in 33 states.
2. Radiation for Ear Infections
For two decades after World War II, radiation applied deep inside the head was deemed to be safe for the treatment of ear infections. Two thin rods with radium tips were placed inside the nostrils of an individual suffering from acute otitis media. The rods were left in place for eight to 12 minutes, and the radiation would shrink the excess lymphoid tissue.
An estimated 500,000 to 2 million civilians were treated. This form of intervention faded as the use of antibiotics and ear tubes expanded.
However, many adults attribute their cancer to these radiation treatments. What’s more, many medical professionals are now validating this connection as addressed in a 2004 Chicago Tribute article:
“The incidence of not only thyroid cancer but thyroid nodules–benign and malignant–is definitely increased in individuals who had radiation as a child,” said Dr. Paul Jellinger, president of the American College of Endocrinology. “No question.”
3. Radiation in Paint
From 1917 to 1926, U.S. Radium Corporation produced luminous paints that were marketed under the brand name “Undark”. U.S. Radium was a defense contractor supplying radioluminescent watches to the military. Glue, water, and radium powder were mixed and applied to the watch dials. The workers, primarily women, were encouraged to keep the brushes sharp by licking the brushes.
Many of the women later began to suffer from anemia, bone fractures and necrosis of the jaw. Many became disabled or terminally ill. The company refused responsibility and subsequently five factory workers brought legal action against U.S. Radium. Two of the women were bedridden, and none of them could raise their arms to take the oath. The Radium Girl lawsuit paved the way for the first occupational disease labor law.
While protective measures were instituted after the trial, the use of radium in watchmaking was not phased out until the 1960s.
4. Radiation on a Movie Set
The 1954 film, The Conqueror, has been deemed one of the worst films of all time. With John Wayne miscast as the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan, the film appeared doomed from the beginning. Production delays and location troubles led to summer filming in 120-degree heat in the middle of the Utah desert.
The location turned out to be downwind of a U.S. government nuclear weapons testing site. Filmmaker Howard Hughes was assured the testing site posed no health threat, so he shipped 60 tons of the dirt back to Hollywood to complete filming. According to the 2015 Telegraph article, The Film That Killed John Wayne,
By 1980, 91 of the 220 cast and crew had been diagnosed with cancer. Forty-six then died of it, including John Wayne, Dick Powell, and every leading, supporting cast member. Pedro Armendáriz would also be diagnosed, but committed suicide after hearing the news . . . Numerous American Indians who served as Mongolian warriors contracted cancer in later years, and even John Wayne’s son Michael died in 2003 of cancer, after visiting his father on the set at age 22.
5. Radiation for Birthmarks
My Aunt Jevne was born in 1935, adopted by my grandparents and welcomed by her 10-year-old brother George. She had a dime-sized birthmark prominently located on her forehead. At the age of 5 Jevne underwent a series of radiation treatments to remove the red spot. The treatment was successful.
In 1998, at the age of 63, Jevne was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She died six months later.
My visit with Aunt Jevne just after her surgery for brain cancer in 1998
Is Jevne’s birthmark removal directly related to the brain tumor? We’ll never know for sure. However, consider the story offered in the article Blast From the Past: A Cautionary Tale,
“I was born in the United States in 1955 and by the age of 4 months had developed a strawberry naevus on my neck. I had a series of radiation treatments to my birthmark during the following year . . . When I was 41 I discovered that I had hyperparathyroidism and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Three years later I was treated for breast cancer. ”
Note that in all five cases mentioned above it took years for the cancers to manifest and even longer for the medical establishment to acknowledge the connection. Wouldn’t caution have been better than the presumption of safety?
The proliferation of wireless radiation is our biggest risk yet. In little more than a decade, we have doused our schools, homes, and offices with what is now classified by the World Health Organization as a class 2B carcinogen. Thanks to the BioIniative Report 2012 we now have a compilation of more than 1800 studies showing biological effects from non-ionizing radiation.
In June 2019 Microwave News published a fascinating article about the connection between glioblastoma (a type of brain tumor) and mobile phones.
Shall we cross our fingers and hope for the best? Or shall we alter our course by educating ourselves and our decision-makers about the hazards of radiation in all forms?
Related Posts
- 33
The City of Berkeley has adopted landmark legislation requiring cell phone retailers to include a city-prepared cell phone health warning with each phone purchase. On Monday, March 21, 2016, the nation's first cell phone "right to know" ordinance took effect. Mobile phone vendors in the city will now be required…
Andrea, I am going to place a mesh shield outside of my bedroom window, can you advise what is the best mesh to use? I was going to use either aluminium or copper and earth it?
I would check with LessEMF.com. They’ll answer questions like this as to the best option. They have lots of options, too. I would love to hear what you learn about this.
I had straight line radium to a strawberry mark invading my left eye (1956); God has protected me from cancer so far but I have lost a parathyroid gland, my thyroid and my left adrenal gland. I also have a fistula between my sinuses and left eye so stuff blows out my tear duct when I sneeze or do nasal washes.
I keep a close eye on anything unusual on my skin. Scarlet stff!
Wow, Deb. Thank you for sharing your story. How little we knew back then about radium.
I had radiation therapy in the 1950s to remove a birthmark on my forehead. Recently I have had two basil cell skin cancers removed. I have also had a number of other growths over the years and severe allergy problems that my siblings never had. I have been wondering if they are the results of that radiation I received as a baby. Is there any definitive studies or proof of such a link? Can I expect continuing skin cancer occurrences from now on?
I shared the links I found in the article, Tom. If you find anything else I would love to hear. Unfortunately, this is just now coming to light. I would continue to care for yourself in terms of diet, exercise and do the best with what you can control. If I learn anything I will share it here. Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi Tom,
I had radiation between the brows in 1946. I a basal cell carcinoma, too, around 1995. My doc, who worked at a teaching hospital in D.C., attributed it to having grown up in Florida. He also told me initially it looked like squamous cell carcinoma. Basically I’ve been avoiding the sun. Fortunately, haven’t had a recurrence., but I’ve had a lot of other x-rays on various parts of my body for other reasons.
I’d like to know if any newer research has been published
Thanks for sharing this. I wish there was more research available.
Hi, I am interested in #2. My husband passed away 3 years ago. He had sphenoid sinus cancer. I always wondered if he could have contracted this from the radium treatments he had when he was young in the 60s. Supposedly because of enlarged adnoids. He was also exposed to asbestos on the ships. He was a Marine in the 70’s. He also was exposed to asbestos in high school when working for an insulation company. I know asbestos usually causes lung related issues, but he breathed through his nose, right?. He had the radium treatments very young and the PHD, head of Radiology at Hopkins, said most definitely the radium treatments could have caused this? Have you heard of any other cases like this?
I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I honestly don’t know but suspect you are on the right track with your thinking.
I came across your posts and would like to share my story.
I was born in 1957 and had a red upraised birthmark on my left shoulder and upper chest. I had several radiation treatments in the first few years.
At the age of 56 (5-1/2 years ago) I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, specifically non-small cell adenocarcinoma, with the primary tumor being in the upper left lobewhoch is exactly the area that was radiated. I have never smoked. I am convinced that the radiation caused my cancer. It took 50+ years to show up.
I’m thankful to be doing very well at this point.
So thankful you’re doing well, Paula. And very grateful that you shared your story here. Very interesting connection.
My mother told me that I was born with a rather large birthmark on the left side of my neck which was removed via x-rays. I am not sure how old I was or how many treatments were given. Today I just had some cells removed from the left side of my neck for Basal skin cancer. Could that be related to those x-rays I had almost 68 years ago?
Wow. Thanks for sharing your story. Sure seems like the two could be related!
I had a strawberry birthmark treated with radium when I was a baby 68 years ago. The birthmark was in front of and above my right ear. It killed the hair follicles so I have bald patches. I am having trouble with that ear…..had a grommet inserted due to muffled sounds, feeling like my ear is blocked and my hearing is affected. When I swallow I get a brief sharp pain in the middle ear but it is not affected when on an aeroplane at all. I also suffer from sinus problems.
Could this be the result if the radium treatment?
I think my mum said they used to hold a block of something against my head.
Would be interested to receive your thoughts and whether cancer is more likely after the radium treatment.
Interesting! Absolutely it might be related. Good job making this connection.
I am Susan Swinbourne born in 1944 Birmingham. I was told by my mother that I was one of the first cured from deafness by radium under Pro. Stirk Adams. I believe in 1947 or 1948
I would like to know more about this please
I am wondering if anyone else had this issue. In 1940, my mom had radium put on her face for a birthmark. She was 10 days old. She had her jawbone removed as a child because it deteriorated. I have a sad journal page she left when she passed. She had skin graphs and part of her hip bone put in to make a jawbone. It never stayed in place and had to keep getting it repositioned. My mother was severely deformed from this. She had about 54 surgeries. None of these helped. She was in pain every day of her life. She always wanted to die. Of course, her thyroid was removed. This treatment caused more physical and psychological issues for her than I could ever say or even know. Anyway, my mom said she was in a Chicago IL hospital as a child and remembered a whole floor of kids like her, but they had it on different parts of their body. My mom and grandma had a strange relationship because of this. They were close but mom was mad and said grandma let them experiment on her. However, she later tried to find her records and even used an attorney, but they could not be found. She wrote to our president once and was told it was normal to put radium on birthmarks and found to be effective. I think I still have the letter. She said that one president paid for her surgery once. Needless to say, she passed without ever knowing why she had to hide her face and be in such pain her entire life. Has anyone out there ever had an experience like this?
Tina,
This is heartbreaking to read. I’m very glad you took the time to share your mom’s story. I hope all of this comes to light one day.