ext_3093 ([identity profile] lauriemann.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] beamjockey 2007-11-12 11:45 pm (UTC)

Irene also died of leukemia.

Pierre certainly suffered from severe overwork. He was killed in a traffic accident in 1906. I've read quite a lot about the Curies over the years, and don't remember reading any speculation on that subject. However, the Secret History of the War on Cancer (by Pittsburgher Devra Davis; basically a pretty good book) claims he suffered from cataracts. The cataracts were caused by radiation exposure, which made him unable to see the cart that hit him. Marie Curie certainly had severe cataracts late in life, but I don't remember ever reading that Pierre Curie had that. I even wrote to Devra about that. If anyone has any additional information on any physical ailments Pierre Curie might have developed due to radiation exposure, I'd be curious to see it.

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