Retrospective cohort mortality study of workers engaged in motion picture film processing

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 [CIJ = 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 respiratoty 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 non occupational influences may be involved in the mortality of this cohort and warrant further investigations.