Shakti V. via PhotoKB.com a écrit :

I don't know if there are any study putting in relation photography and
increase in the number of cancers ...

If the increase of cancers is just recent, then we may reasonably say
that traditional photography is probably not the cause as photographers
are working that way for more than a century ...
Maybe digital photography is responsible for such a recent increase of
cancers :-)

There are some ingredients used in some products that are known
carcinogen, using them correctly is good way to reduce the risk close
to nil.

Just use common sense and avoid physical contact with the chemicals.
Pay particularly attention to dry chemicals that can be airborne and
inhaled and avoid the most dangerous ones.

Some years ago in France, developers in shops had to be kept in closed
cupboards because hydrochinone was found to be carcinogen.
It's true it is carcinogen, the problem was that some black skin people
used it in to bleach their skin ...
So the real danger of a chemical depends mostly on how you use it.

Anyway, if you feel unsecure, you've better to stop it, there are no
valid reasons to continue a hobby that makes you unconfortable.
In these digi-days, you can find substitutes :-)

Claudio Bonavolta
http://www.bonavolta.ch

Only if you bathe in it, swallow a lot of it and stay out in the sun
for too long.

==
    John S. Douglas
    Photographer & Webmaster
    Legacy-photo.com - Xs750.net

Shakti V. via PhotoKB.com spake thus:

If you're concerned about this, you ought to check the MSDS for each of
the chemicals in question. They're out there, and will list the
carcinogenic risks, if any, of using the chemicals.

You can become hypersensitized to Metol, and in some cases
hydroquinone, which is why some chemistries were formulated with
phenidone in place of Metol.  In any case, the symptoms are usually a
localized dermatitis, though France considers hydroquinone a potential
carcinogen, and the MSDS lists it as such.

Dry developers/fixers are normally packaged in a crystalline form that
minimizes dust.  They can be toxic or irritating in concentrated form.
If preparing chemicals from primary components, be aware that some of
them may be available in different forms than those you find in
pre-formulated versions, and may have increased risks.

When mixing liquids, or handling wet film, I recommend using
nitrile-rubber gloves.  Especially with color chemistries, where the
stabilizers are sometimes formaldehyde-based.  Formaldehyde is most
definitely a carcinogen, and will permeate latex in a short time.

Practice good chemical handling practices, and you won't have a
problem.  Provide ventilation, wear eye protection if there's the
possibility of splashing, and wear gloves.  Your exposure should be
minimized.

Photochemistry info here:
http://www.jackspcs.com/chemdesc.htm

I come from a farm and for many years lived in the countryside. I'm 40 now.
Back when my father was young cancers were much less common as a cause of
death. But then again people never lived as long either -- for other
reasons. The one thing that changed on our farm over the years was the
amount of tilling we had to do to the soil. It wasn't uncommon to have to
plow a field between three and six times a year depending on what happened
the year before and the crop that was currently on the field. The amount of
tilling has steadily decreased over the last few decades. The reason?
Sprays. Now thanks to various sprays we only have to till a field one or
twice a season. Saves a lot on fuel. Saves money, makes food cheaper to
produce. These days it's common for people from the city move to the
countryside -- near farms -- residing in small rural subdivisions and
developments that dot the landscape. They want the fresh air and tranquility
that the pastoral surrounding provides. They think they've moved to greener
pastures, I think they've just moved next to an unregulated industrial zone
that pours thousands of gallons of chemicals on every square mile of the
land two to four times per year. The darkroom, in my opinion, is probably
one of the safest place to be...at least most things are labeled and you can
choose your chemicals and or change the way you work and when necessary take
appropriate precautions when dealing with hazards. Changing the way we
produce our food...that's going to take centuries to fix.