Chemical pollutants in X-ray film processing departments

Scobbie, Emma; Dabill, David W.; Groves, John A.

doi:10.1016/0003-4878(95)00091-7

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Development of occupational asthma has been reported in workers in X-ray departments, as shown in Table 3. Although airborne levels of GA in the breathing zone were reported to be less than 0.002 ppm 9) , GA concentration above the developer solution tank was 0.13 ppm 108) . It was reported that radiographers (n=588) consistently exhibited increased prevalence of respiratory, musculoskeletal and other somatic symptoms compared with a control group of physiotherapists (PTs) (n=628), and that such symptoms were related to specific aspects of exposure at work to radiographic processing chemicals 105) .…”

Section: Workers In X-ray Departmentsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Not only GA but many other chemicals, such as acetic acid, hydroquinone, glycol, sodium sulphite and potassium hydroxide are constituents of the developers used in X-ray film processing 69,70,107,108) . Recently, GA concentrations in X-ray developers have risen to compensate for the reduced silver content of film 9,107) .…”

Section: Workers In X-ray Departmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A survey of X-ray film processing departments in four hospitals revealed that GA was detected in neither ambient air nor in the exhaust duct from automatic film processors 108) . Thus, automation of film processing and improvement of developers and fixers can reduce GA exposure.…”

Section: Preventive Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Glutaraldehyde Exposure on Human Health

Takigawa

Endo

2006

Journal of Occupational Health

248

147

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Section: Workers In X-ray Departmentsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Workers In X-ray Departmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Glutaraldehyde Exposure on Human Health

Takigawa

Endo

2006

Journal of Occupational Health

248

147

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“…Radiographers or medical radiation technologists (MRTs) have potential exposure to processing chemicals involved in developing and fixing films including sensitizers and irritants, such as glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and acetic acid [Gordon, 1989;Scobbie et al, 1996;Teschke et al, 2002]. The magnitude of the workforce is considerable, exceeding 5,000 in Ontario and about 10,000 in Canada.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work‐attributed symptom clusters (darkroom disease) among radiographers versus physiotherapists: Associations between self‐reported exposures and psychosocial stressors

Tarlo

Liss

Greene

et al. 2004

American J Industrial Med

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“…Surveys have shown that x-ray workers are exposed to glutaraldehyde levels between 1–10 μg/m 3 , and for acetic acid, and sulphur dioxide less than 0.1 mg/m 3 [ 29 - 33 ]. Concentrations of other chemical constituents as well as their interactions are not well known.…”

Section: Case Presentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Makropoulos

Alexopoulos

2006

J Occup Med Toxicol

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BackgroundExposures to high doses of irradiation, to chemotherapy, benzene, petroleum products, paints, embalming fluids, ethylene oxide, herbicides, pesticides, and smoking have been associated with an increased risk of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Although there in no epidemiological evidence of relation between X-ray developer, fixer and replenisher liquids and AML, these included glutaraldehyde which has weakly associated with lymphocytic leukemia in rats and hydroquinone has been increasingly implicated in producing leukemia, causing DNA and chromosomal damage, inhibits topo-isomerase II, alter hematopoiesis and inhibit apoptosis of neoplastic cells.Case presentationTwo white females (A and B) hired in 1985 as medical radiation technologists in a primary care center, in Greece. In July 2001, woman A, 38-years-old, was diagnosed as having acute monocytic leukaemia (FAB M5). The patient did not respond to therapy and died threeweeks later. In August 2001, woman B, 35-year-old, was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (FAB M3). Since discharge, she is in continuous complete remission. Both women were non smokers without any medical history. Shortly after these incidents official inspectors and experts inspected workplace, examined equipment, archives of repairs, notes, interviewed and monitored employees. They concluded that shielding was inadequate for balcony's door but personal monitoring did not show any exceeding of TLV of 20 mSv yearly and cytogenetics analysis did not reveal findings considered to be characteristics of ionizing exposure. Equipment for developing photos had a long list of repairs, mainly leakages of liquids and increases of temperature. On several occasions the floor has been flooded especially during 1987–1993 and 1997–2001. Inspection confirmed a complete lack of ventilation and many spoiled medical x-ray films. Employees reported that an "osmic" level was continuously evident and frequently developed symptoms of respiratory irritation and dizziness.ConclusionThe findings support the hypothesis that the specific AML cases might have originated from exposure to chemicals, especially hydroquinone and/or glutaraldehyde. The report also emphasises the crucial role of inspection of facilities and enforcement of compliance with regulations in order to prevent similar incidents.

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Chemical pollutants in X-ray film processing departments

Cited by 9 publications

References 5 publications

Effects of Glutaraldehyde Exposure on Human Health

Effects of Glutaraldehyde Exposure on Human Health

Work‐attributed symptom clusters (darkroom disease) among radiographers versus physiotherapists: Associations between self‐reported exposures and psychosocial stressors

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