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Each year, many companies find themselves having to recall products due to critical design flaws or unforeseen issues. For instance, a medication might have an unexpected side effect, a food item could become contaminated, or a children's toy may contain sharp or small parts. In today's world, news of such issues spreads quickly, often leading to swift resolutions.
While these unintentional issues are typically understood in real time, it's hard not to question what companies were thinking in hindsight. This is especially apparent in the early to mid-20th century, when radioactive elements were used in a wide range of everyday products. Below are some of the most bizarre and puzzling examples of products that once contained radioactive materials.
10. Energy Drinks
While many nations today use nuclear power for energy production, the link between radioactive substances and energy dates back to the early 20th century. However, instead of powering homes or cities, people initially attempted to harness this energy for themselves. In 1920s America, individuals seeking an extra boost could purchase RadiThor—a concoction of radium dissolved in water, marketed as a medicinal energy drink. It claimed to address various ailments, including impotence.
The alleged proof for this came from a study on the romantic behavior of water newts. Amazingly, people were drawn to the idea, and despite the known dangers of radium, RadiThor sold surprisingly well. Fortunately, the drink was pricey, which meant it was mainly consumed by a small group of wealthy individuals, avoiding a large-scale public health disaster. Eventually, the government intervened and banned RadiThor in 1932.
9. Chapatis
Although the general public in the 1920s may not have fully understood the hazards of radiation, World War II exposed the world to its dangers. One shocking case came from Coventry, UK, in the 1960s, where a concern arose about a high rate of anemia among South Asian women. At the time, their diet was thought to be the cause. In 1969, 21 South Asian women participated in a study to explore this issue.
The women were given chapatis to consume, which contained a type of iron that emitted radiation. Researchers monitored their radiation levels to determine how much iron was absorbed. The scientists concluded that the flour in chapatis was not easily absorbed by the body, suggesting that these women should take additional iron supplements. The matter remained quiet until 1995, when a documentary raised concerns about whether the women had given proper consent. An inquiry in 1998 found that the study didn't meet current ethical standards, and in 2023, political leaders pushed for further efforts to locate the women and assess any long-term effects.
8. Toothpaste
Today, people often refer to warm, inviting smiles as "radiant," but in early 20th-century Germany, this term had a different connotation. At the dawn of the century, a large chemical company named Auergesellschaft was primarily known for manufacturing lanterns. To make their lanterns brighter, they used a radioactive metal called thorium. After producing each batch, some leftover thorium remained, and rather than discard it, someone in the company had the inventive idea of incorporating it into toothpaste.
Initially, the toothpaste was given to German soldiers before World War I, but it wasn't until after World War II that the company decided to mass produce Doramad, a thorium oxide toothpaste. With the war ending and sales of wartime products like gas masks coming to a halt, the company set its sights on the booming cosmetics market in the U.S. They were aware of the radioactive nature of the toothpaste but used this to their advantage, claiming it would kill germs and improve circulation in the gums.
7. Suppositories
Radioactive products were not limited to just the mouth. For those who wanted to experience the benefits of radiation but couldn't stomach the taste of such products, the Home Products Company from Denver, Colorado, offered a solution. In the 1920s, they began marketing a 15-day treatment of Vita Radium Suppositories. The packaging proudly proclaimed that these "perfectly harmless" suppositories contained real radium, promising to restore "manly vigor" and fill men with "joyous vitality."
Primarily marketed as a cure for impotence, the company made numerous claims about the benefits of these suppositories for men. They believed that the radium would be absorbed into the bloodstream and then transported to every organ, providing an energy boost that would rejuvenate them. This turned out to be baseless, and even some skeptical doctors voiced their disbelief at the time.
6. Radioendocrinator
Some inventors realized that radiation could affect the body without the need to be ingested or directly inserted. They were correct, but unfortunately unaware or dismissive of the dangers it posed. One such example was the Radioendocrinator, a device the size of a credit card that contained radium. An advertisement for the product suggested that men wear it at night by placing it into an adapter, which could then be worn like a jockstrap.
Other promotional materials depicted both men and women wearing the device strapped to different parts of their bodies, such as their heads, necks, and backs. For a product from the 1920s, it was exceptionally costly. When it was first released, it sold for $1,000. Over time, the price dropped to as low as $150, still quite expensive for the era. The company shut down in 1930.
5. Face Creams and Powders
Much like the term "radiant" is used to describe a warm, friendly smile, "glowing" is commonly used to refer to healthy, beautiful skin. The concept of enhancing one's appearance is even called a "glow up," but thankfully, this is no longer taken as literally as it was in France during the early 20th century. One of the most well-known brands from that time that capitalized on the association between beauty, health, and radiance was Tho-Radia. They sold face creams and powders containing radium, and the formula was credited to a man named Alfred Curie, who also served on the company's board.
His name helped lend legitimacy to the company, though he had no familial connection to Marie and Pierre Curie. In fact, they considered suing the company for misleading claims. Tho-Radia was marketed as a product that could stimulate circulation and eliminate wrinkles, among other things. In 1937, the French government took action against products containing thorium and radium. As a result, Alfred Curie parted ways with Tho-Radia, and the radioactive elements were no longer included in their products. The brand remained operational until the early 1960s.
4. Cigarette Plates
In the 1980s, someone in Japan came up with a troubling idea: incorporating radiation into the already harmful world of smoking. The NAC Plate was a small metal plate containing 4% thorium. Its creators claimed that by placing it on the outside of a cigarette pack, people could reduce the adverse effects of smoking. In 1982, an attempt was made to sell these plates in the USA, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stepped in, halting the sale, as thorium was only allowed for commercial purposes and could not be sold to the public.
The Commission also issued a statement, saying their staff doubted the product's effectiveness. Any alpha particles emitted by the thorium would be absorbed by the cigarette packaging and wouldn't even be able to pass through something as thin as a piece of paper. On a positive note, this meant that the NAC Plate could not have made smoking any more dangerous than it already was.
3. Water Bottles
If you’re wondering when society finally stopped experimenting with dangerous radioactive substances, you might be surprised to learn it wasn’t that long ago. As recently as 2005, a Japanese company named Nakano Tec Co., Ltd. was still producing a product called the Well Aqua water bottle. This bottle contained a small piece of thorium inside a metal cylinder.
Thorium was just one of several ingredients the company claimed could purify water, eliminating chlorine and improving taste. Their so-called 'live water' was marketed as being as refreshing as drinking from a natural spring in a national park. To prevent accidental swallowing, the cylinder was larger than the bottle's opening. The bottles were designed for about a year’s use, with regular monthly cleaning.
2. Embalming Fluid
The early 20th century was rife with fraudulent practices in the business world. One notorious example is the Gra-Maze comforter, marketed as containing radium, but it didn’t. Its seller, J. Bernard King, was forced to close down his business due to the deceit. However, many companies did not make explicit claims about radioactive ingredients, but rather implied it.
A prime example is 'Esco Radium Liquid Sunshine Embalming Fluid.' Despite its optimistic name, this embalming fluid did not actually contain any radium. It seems the idea was to suggest that even in death, people could maintain a glowing, healthy, and youthful appearance. The product claimed to be more effective than any other embalming fluid on the market.
1. Comforters
In hindsight, it’s hard to believe that people once marketed radiation as beneficial and safe after the horrors of World War II. However, the true effects of radiation exposure took time to become clear, and during the 1950s, there was a resurgence in products containing uranium and other hazardous substances. Among these were the Gra-Maze Uranium Comforter and the Cosmos Radioactive Pad. These items were sold with promises that they could improve health and alleviate ailments like arthritis and other body pains.
The Gra-Maze was essentially a revival of a 1920s-era comforter that had been advertised as containing radium but was actually filled with nothing more than regular soil. However, the Gra-Maze did, in fact, contain uranium. The surge in popularity of uranium products was fueled by the opening of new mines around that time. Eventually, the federal government intervened and halted the production of this comforter and similar products.
