Fryzek JP, Chadda BK, Cohen SS, Marano D, White K, Steinwandel M, McLaughlin JK. 2005. Retrospective cohort mortality study of workers engaged in motion picture film processing. J Occup Environ Med 47(3):278-286.
Abstract
Objective: To assess potential health risks associated with work in a large motion picture film-processing facility.
Methods: A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted during 1960–2000 among 2646 film workers. Job family categories, created from detailed employee work history information, were used to evaluate chemical exposure patterns.
Results: Overall mortality was as expected (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0–1.2). Statistically significant associations were found for suicides (SMR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2–3.0) among the hourly workers and AIDS (SMR = 5.3; 95% CI = 1.7–12.3) among the administrative workers. Film developers had increases of respiratory cancer (SMR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.1–3.0) and suicides (SMR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.0–4.7), whereas film assemblers had an increase in suicides (SMR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.2–4.4) only.
Conclusions: Excess deaths resulting from suicides and AIDS among the workforce suggest that nonoccupational influences may be involved in the mortality of this cohort and warrant further investigations.