OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PROCESSING OF X-RAY PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS

Hazards to health from exposure to chemicals in automatic processing o f photographic film is well documented by ILO and others. In the early 1980s increasing reports of miscellaneous health problems including r espiratory and skin effects in radiographers processing X-ray films we re published. In some cases asthmatic type responses were reported to be so severe as to exclude the radiographer from further work. It has been suggested that the increased number of such cases coincided with process changes, in particular the increased addition of glutaraldehyd e as a hardening agent in the developer to offset the softening of the film especially those of low silver content. Attention must also be f ocused however on other miscellaneous chemicals present and of the pos sibility of synergistic reactions. The major problems appear to be ass ociated with heavy workloads, poorly designed and ill-ventilated darkr ooms or processing rooms, and lack of appropriate safe handling techni ques for the chemicals used. Several studies illustrate improvements b y attention to good occupational hygiene practice. The necessity for a holistic approach to control of such a complex micro-environment is s tressed. It is unlikely that a single causal agent can be identified.