Quackery involving radioactive substances

Updated on Nov 23, 2023

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Quackery involving radioactive substances is quackery that improperly promotes radioactivity as a therapy for illnesses. Unlike radiotherapy, which is the scientifically sound use of radiation for the destruction of cells (usually cancer cells), quackery involving radioactive substances pseudoscientifically promotes radiation as healthful and healing for cells and tissues. It was most popular during the early 20th century, after the discovery in 1896 of radioactive decay. The practice has widely declined, but is still actively practiced by some.

Notable examples

Radithor, a solution of radium salts, which was claimed by its developer William J. A. Bailey to have curative properties. The industrialist Eben Byers died in 1932 from ingesting it in large quantities throughout 1927–1930.

Many brands of toothpaste were laced with radioactive substances that were claimed to make teeth shine whiter, such as Doramad Radioactive Toothpaste.

Bath and bathing waters were advertised positively as being "highly radioactive" and with a "curative value", e.g., in a New Zealand Thames Star Supplement report from 1912.

Revigator pots, which added radon to drinking water.

Uranium sand houses, where patients would sit on benches in a round room that had a floor composed of mildly radioactive sand (usually beach sand with crushed minerals like Carnotite). These were popular in Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado during the 1950s.

Lying in a narrow box with sands that reputedly contained uranium ore was promoted as a treatment for arthritis, bursitis, and rheumatism as late as 1956.

References

Quackery involving radioactive substances Wikipedia

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