The enduring legacy of Marie Curie: impacts of radium in 21st century radiological and medical sciences

Rebecca Abergel, John Aris, Wesley E. Bolch, Shaheen A. Dewji, Ashley Golden, David A. Hooper, Dmitri Margot, Carly G. Menker, Tatjana Paunesku, Dörthe Schaue, Gayle E. Woloschak*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: This review is focused on radium and radionuclides in its decay chain in honor of Marie Curie, who discovered this element. Materials and methods: We conglomerated current knowledge regarding radium and its history predating our present understanding of this radionuclide. Results: An overview of the properties of radium and its dose assessment is shown followed by discussions about both the negative detrimental and positive therapeutic applications of radium with this history and its evolution reflecting current innovations in medical science. Conclusions: We hope to remind all those who are interested in the progress of science about the vagaries of the process of scientific discovery. In addition, we raise the interesting question of whether Marie Curie’s initial success was in part possible due to her tight alignment with her husband Pierre Curie who pushed the work along.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)267-275
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Biology
Volume98
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Radionuclides
  • radium
  • radon
  • risk

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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