035. Radiation‑Fit Shoes: The X‑Ray Fitting Fiasco cover art

035. Radiation‑Fit Shoes: The X‑Ray Fitting Fiasco

035. Radiation‑Fit Shoes: The X‑Ray Fitting Fiasco

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 A 1940s shoe chain partnered with a radiology firm to use low‑dose X‑ray imaging for ultra‑precise foot measurements, promising perfectly fitted shoes. The device exposed dozens of customers daily to ionizing radiation, causing tingling, skin irritation and mild radiation‑sickness symptoms. Media exposure led to lawsuits, regulatory action, and a settlement that banned the practice and spurred stricter safety rules for commercial radiation use. The fiasco became a cautionary tale about unchecked tech hype.

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