12 Things You Need to Know About Women In The First World War

12 Things You Need to Know About Women In The First World War

Maria - July 7, 2016

9. Working Conditions were Unpleasant, Dangerous and Involved Long Hours

12 Things You Need to Know About Women In The First World War

Although the pay rate for women increased (still lower compared to men), they still faced many dangers at industries and factories. It was often unpleasant, exhausting and it involved using dangerous tools and equipments and chemicals. Women at shells industries were exposed to TNT, which caused toxic jaundice. Factories were noisy, unheated and full of fumes. Many suffered illness and diseases such as cyanosis, headaches, vomiting, constipation, mercury poisoning and anemia. Three of the most devastating explosions occurred at the Barnbow National Factory near Leeds, where 134 people were killed, Silvertown in Essex with 73 dead and 400 injured, and the National Shell Filling Factory in Chilwell where 35 died.

8. Some got their skin turned yellow

12 Things You Need to Know About Women In The First World War

The hundreds of thousands of women that worked in factories, were there for long hours under unhealthy conditions and were exposed to hazardous chemicals. The munitionettes, munition girls, who work at factories were also known as canaries due to their skin turning yellow because of contact with toxic chemicals. Those working with TNT (trinitrotoluene, an extremely toxic yellowish compound) pouring them into shells, suffered from toxic jaundice and turned their skin yellow. During that time, they worked with no effective protective clothing or safety measures, and about 400 of them were killed due to overexposure.

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