[2] She began teaching at University of Quebec at Montreal in 1976 and two years later she was conducting research amongst phosphate workers.

She knew of the potential and radioactivity and discovered that amongst six workers, four of them had children with birth defects like a club foot.

She did manage to get dust extraction equipment installed but only on the proviso that the researchers left the factory.

This work led to recommendations that were adopted and to her specializing in ergonomics and winning an award.

[3] Messing co-founded the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Health, Society and the Environment (CINBIOSE) at her university.