Chemicals potentially in Xray fumes/aerososols include:
-toluene. "Freshly prepared developer solutions reveal toluene [a benzene-derived solvent] as a major volatile constituent accompanied by traces of glutaraldehyde and butyraldehyde. As the solutions aged over a period of 13 days, butyraldehyde [a severe irritant] emerged as the most prominent volatile component." [1] Toluene: Acute exposure effects: stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness and headaches, loss of consciousness. Irritating to eyes and skin, nose and throat, respiratory tract and other mucous membranes. Repeated contact may result in defatting of skin and dermatitis. Long term effects: central nervous system depression, permanent brain damage - reduced memory, blurred vision, loss of concentration, tingling of limbs, irritability, depression, reproductive effects in women eg increased spontaneous abortions, and in men, risk of cancer in all organs.[2] Toluene and benzene probably result from chemical impurities - (G Care, personal communication).
-benzene: - environmental pollutant with a huge range of uses; causes a variety of blood diseases and cancers; genetic mutations in mice[3]; causes leukemia; unavoidable component of tobacco smoke and gasoline (NIEHS, Jan 9, 1997). Benzene was detected as a major component above Type B brand chemicals in the headspace above the developer at one survey location at a similar level to the toluene and butyraldehyde detected (Scobbie, 1996)
-butyraldehyde/butanal: uses - synthetic almond flavouring in food; manufacture of rubber accelerators; synthetic resins; solvents; plasticizers. Some mutagenic data. (NIEHS, 11 Feb, 1998),"Butyraldehyde, a severe irritant, was detected at low concentrations in the exhaust duct and also as a main component above the developer solutions. The laboratory studies showed that butyraldehyde becomes a more significant component of the headspace as the solutions aged and could indicate a higher potential for exposure to this aldehyde when handling waste developer solutions." (Scobbie et al, 1996, p 433).). "Substantially higher concentrations of sulphur dioxide and acetic acid are present above the chemical solutions themselves and it was only directly above the developer that glutaraldehyde and butyraldehyde were detectable. It is likely that hand-mixing of chemicals, as was frequent in the past, could give rise to relatively high concentrations of these substances during the short time required for dispensing and dilution with water. The spent developer appears to be enriched in butyraldehyde but not enough is known about the health effects of this material to be able to judge its effect." (p 434).
-ammonia (from spill mixes) is intensely irritating to mucous membranes, corrosive burns of skin; systemic effects from mild to moderate exposure are headache, salivation, burning of throat, loss of sense of smell, perspiration, nausea, vomiting. Scobbie et al detected <0.6 ppm in a simulated problem area and up to 1.45ppm in an exhaust duct (OES 25 ppm).
-formaldehyde may be present in the darkroom/radiology suite especially from wood composite particle board, and new furnishings eg carpet, curtains etc. (See pp 12 and 13). Scobbie detected between 0.004 - 0.01ppm in 6 survey locations. "These concentrations are typical of those found in most work environments" (p 428). MEL 2 ppm.
-hydrogen sulphide (highly poisonous, smells like rotten eggs; with long term exposure the nose becomes insensitive. Unusual for it to be present - from decomposing matter in drains, sulphiding silver recovery units or decomposed fixer.(The silver itself is very irritating and can cause chronic bronchitis, kidney damage, and hardening of the arteries over a long period of exposure.)
Scobbie et al also detected trace levels of some phthalates, phenols and alkyl benzenes at survey locations. "...there can be no absolute certainty that film processing was the source" (p 428). Other trace chemicals analysed included propanol, methoxyethanol, ethoxyethanol, butoxyethanol, dihydrofuran, methylpentanone, pyridine etc.
For further chemical information, see Gordon/Laird Guidance Notes, 1990 (ACC) and Photosol's Fumes from X-Ray Chemistry (Feb 1995) from which much of the above comes. The idea that more glutaraldehyde was added to Xray chemicals during the 1980's because of the silver crisis may be incorrect.)
