Abstract
Darkroom technicians and assistants are exposed daily to x-ray processing chemicals. These chemicals contain known irritants which can cause some disease symptoms to its handlers. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of chemical hazards and prevalence of darkroom diseases among darkroom technicians and assistants in Southeast, Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey. A total of 105 darkroom technicians and assistants who met the inclusion criteria in the 10 tertiary hospitals in Southeast, Nigeria were enlisted in the study. Data were collected using researcher-developed questionnaire and on-the-spot assessment of adequacy of ventilation in the darkroom. The questionnaire sought data on demographic variables, knowledge of the constituents of the processing chemicals, adherences to operating guidelines, knowledge of possible side effects, any observed sudden episodes of ill health and presence of workshops for new employees and older staff. The reliability of the instrument was conducted using test re-test in two tertiary hospitals in Southwest Nigeria. The internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach alpha which yielded a co-efficient of 0.82. A total of 105 questionnaires were administered and 100 copies properly completed and returned giving a return rate of 95.2%. 72% of the respondents had knowledge (mean = 3.20±0.71) of chemical hazard associated with x-ray processing chemicals while 34% had knowledge (mean = 3.12±1.3) of the constituents of the processing chemicals. Forty-four respondents (44%) always read the enclosed Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (mean = 2.57±1.1) before mixing the chemicals. The prevalence of darkroom disease among darkroom technicians and assistant in Southeast, Nigeria from our study was 68%. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) on the knowledge of darkroom disease, constituents of the processing chemicals and attention to Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) among darkroom technicians and assistants of different educational levels. There was high knowledge of chemical hazards among darkroom technicians and assistants from our study. However poor knowledge of the constituents of the processing chemicals and poor attention to the MSDS were noted to contribute to increase in the prevalence of the diseases.
Highlights
Image processing chemicals help to convert latent images formed on radiographic films to visible images
Eight three percent (83%) of the respondents were males while 17% were females, 52% of the darkroom technicians and assistants were within the age range of 31 to 40 years
A total of 72 (72%) of the respondents had knowledge of chemical hazard associated with x-ray processing chemicals while 34% had knowledge of the constituents of the processing chemicals
Summary
Image processing chemicals help to convert latent images formed on radiographic films to visible images. The constituents of the processing chemicals are known irritants and could cause or exacerbate symptoms such as headache, skin rashes, asthma, nasal and pharyngeal irritation, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose and cough in humans (Byrns et al, 2000; Tomoko and Yoko, 2006; Nayebzader, 2007; Kakooei et al, 2007) These symptoms are part of multiple symptoms referred to as darkroom diseases or multiple-chemical sensitivity (Sanchez, 1999). Darkroom diseases describe a collection of symptoms experienced by radiographers and darkroom technicians when exposed to x-ray film processing chemicals (Spicer et al, 1986; Hewitt, 1993; Nallon et al, 2000; Liss et al, 2003; Tarlo et al, 2004) Some occupational factors such as the period of stay per shift in the darkroom was reported by Al Zabadi and Nazzal (2014) to have a strong significant association with the mean number of reported symptoms. Al-Ajerami and Sirdah (2008) had reported from their study in Gaza strip that radiographers at high risk of developing darkroom disease symptoms were those who spend long periods (>10 h per week) in diagnostic imaging departments
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
