Question:    In the 1920’s many young women died of radium poisoning.   How were they poisoned?

Answer:
Radium used to be used to make watch hands and dials glow in the dark.  Unfortunately, the women who were employed to do this work were instructed to keep their brushes pointed by licking them, causing them to ingest the radium paint.  This ingested radium eventually caused many deaths.

For a reference, visit:  http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/njwomenshistory/Period_5/radiumdial.htm