A British Columbia study of smoke and fog used in theatre and film productions shows that actors and crew suffered respiratory problems as a result of exposure to the special effects.
The study -- called "Atmospheric Effects in the Entertainment Industry: Constituents, Exposures, and Health Effects" -- was prepared by the University of British Columbia's School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. The school conducted the study at the request of Safety and Health in Arts, Production, and Entertainment (SHAPE), a safety-and-health association for the performing arts and motion picture industry in British Columbia.
Linda Kinney, SHAPE's general manager, told Back Stage on Tuesday that UBC had released a summary of the study in January, was in the final phase of the full report, and should be releasing it in about a week.
According to the summary, the researchers studied the smoke-and-fog exposure of 111 entertainment-industry personnel in 19 locations involved in productions for TV and movies, live theatre, music concerts, and a video arcade.
"Some sites were visited more than once, for a total of 32 sampling days," the summary noted. "On about half the days, glycols fogs were used and on the other half, mineral oils were used."
Researchers found that "fog aerosols were small enough that a large proportion of them could enter the smallest airways and air sacs of the lungs." They also found the "average personal mineral oil mist exposure in this study" exceeded the proposed British Columbia regulation for such exposure.
To determine respiratory health effects, researchers studied 101 of the 111 persons who participated in the exposure monitoring study. After measuring lung function and interviewing the subjects, researchers compared the figures to a control-group study performed on employees of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation.
"Compared to the control group, the entertainment industry employees had lower average lung function test results and they reported more chronic respiratory symptoms: nasal symptoms, cough, phlegm, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath on exertion, and current asthma symptoms, even after taking other factors into account such as age, smoking, and other lung diseases and allergic conditions," the summary stated. "The entertainment industry employees also had increased rates of work-related phlegm, wheezing, chest tightness, and nasal symptoms."
The study summary goes on to state flatly, "Most of these symptoms and decreased lung function were associated with having been exposed to greater amounts of theatrical smoke and fog (higher levels and more days of exposure) over the previous two years. Lower levels of lung function were also seen in employees who worked closest to the fog machine."
The study also found increased nose, throat, and voice symptoms associated with increased exposure levels. "Increased dry cough or dry throat and increased headache, dizziness, and tiredness on the testing day were more common when glycol fogs were used," the summary said. "In contrast, a measurable drop in lung function?was more often seen when mineral oil fogs were used on the testing day."
As a result, the summary concluded, "Overall, the health study results suggest that exposure to theatrical smokes and fogs is provoking non-specific respiratory irritation and increasing the risk for chronic airflow obstruction among BC theatrical industry employees."
The summary's recommendations include possibly reducing performers' exposure through ventilation, monitoring, and use of products other than mineral oil.
Equity, AGMA Reduction Efforts
In 1998, Actors' Equity Association in the United States co-commissioned a study on the effects of smoke and fog on performers' health, led by Dr. Jacqueline Moline of Mount Sinai Hospital in tandem with Environ, a California-based consulting firm. In May 2001, Equity and the League of American Theatres and Producers used the study to agree on acceptable measured limits of smoke and fog in Broadway productions and Broadway tours.
This year, Equity also agreed to a new five-year pact with the Council of Resident Stock Theatres (CORST). That pact includes CORST's agreement to also implement those limits.
Last fall, the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) introduced a national policy to help regulate smoke-and-fog use in opera and ballet productions. That policy includes the requirement that "No smoke or fog effects should be used in any production except for those generated by dry ice or steam."
Broadway's musicians, who conducted a four-day strike last month before agreeing to a new four-year pact with producers, had been calling for adjustments in smoke-and-fog practices to keep the effects from settling in orchestra pits during Broadway shows. Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians said it had reached an agreement on health and safety in the new agreement with the League of American Theatres and Producers, but neither side has released specifics of what the health and safety changes involve.