How was radium used in misleading health products after its discovery?

Following the discovery of radium in 1898, its successful use in cancer treatment led to the widespread, misguided perception that it was a "miracle element". Charlatans and manufacturers exploited this public fascination and lack of scientific understanding to market various health products, often making exaggerated or fraudulent claims about their curative properties.123

These misleading products included:
* Consumer Goods: Radium was incorporated into everyday items such as toothpaste and cosmetics, marketed under the false pretense of health and beauty benefits.2
* Medical Devices: Radium was purportedly added to "magical" magnetic belts and plasters, which contained only infinitesimal amounts of radioactivity.3
* Pharmaceuticals: Various mixtures and preparations were sold as health tonics, despite a lack of established scientific evidence for their safety or efficacy.4

The promotion of these products constitutes a clear example of quackery, where individuals were deceived for financial gain. Tragically, because radium concentrates in bones and emits radiation that interferes with blood production, users of these products suffered severe health consequences, including anemia, bone cancer, and death.312