They stated that only 24% of the workers (male and female) showed no symptons of TNT poisoning (based on blood tests).Ī short story based on the lives of munitions workers in WWI by Jess Milton TNT poisoning became such a common problem that it was frequently mentioned in early 20th century medical journals. Notice the 155-mm shells scattered about on the ground. Pictured above is an advertisement for Oatine Face Cream, a product which was marketed specifically to Canary Girls. Image via “Nice Girls and Rude Girls: Women Workers in World War I” by Deborah Thom. Doctors said that only time would fade the discolouration. One “ baby canary” whose mother worked in a munitions factory in Banbury, remembered that in her town, most children were simply born that way. Cases were even reported of munitionettes giving birth to yellow children. Other strange symptoms included hair turning green or falling out altogether, chest pain, breast deformation, weakening of the immune system, vomiting, anemia, migraines and fertility problems. It was believed that the canary with blue eyes were particularly adept calibration work.
#CANARY MAIL BULLETS SKIN#
Prolonged exposure to the sulfuric acid caused depigmentation, turning their skin yellow. They had gone from working as housemaids, cooks and nannies to being employed in munitions factories where became known as munitionettes. They performed both heavy-duty and delicate tasks that require more skill than brute force handling detonators and explosives, machining shell cases etc.īut the women also worked with hazardous chemicals on a daily basis without adequate protection, such as trinitrotoluene (TNT). By the end of the war, roughly 80% of the weaponry used by the British army was being made by women who were in fact paying very dearly to “do their bit”. With the nation’s men at war and male labour in short supply, Britain’s women had been recruited to ramp up production ammunition and were paid on average less than half of what the men were paid. They were called the “Canary Girls” because of their bright yellow skin and green or ginger-coloured hair. At lunchtime, the women had to be separated in the cafeteria because everything they touched turned yellow.
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