Ruth Mcauley said she had a condition known as `darkroom disease' through constant exposure to processing chemicals used to develop x-rays.
But when she tried to get something done about it, she claims she was bullied, victimised and discriminated against.
Ms Mcauley, who is claiming unfair dismissal by the Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals Trust, said symptoms included a metallic taste in her mouth, a sore throat and eyes, blocked and runny nose and overwhelming fatigue, along with joint and muscle pains.
She told an industrial tribunal in Manchester that apart from concerns about her health, she was worried her baby she was breast-feeding could also have been affected.
Ms Mcauley said other staff and departmental heads refused to take her seriously, suggesting the cause could have been air conditioning, her hormones, or depression, and she was told by her department health and safety rep to `stop moaning, whingeing and harassing' her.
Ms Mcauley claims she eventually left work, which included shifts at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Booth Hall Children's Hospital, because she feared for her health.
She said she was ultimately dismissed after allegations about her capability - though there had previously been no concerns about her ability to do her job. She said investigations into her complaints took five months and were flawed, while her exposure to chemicals has left her with an adverse reactions to everyday substances including perfumes, paint, cleaning products, shampoos and air fresheners.
Ms Mcauley, who lives with her partner and child and Salford, said her problems began when she returned to work after maternity leave in 2006.
She told the tribunal she felt she was being treated differently because she was only working part time, and particularly because she had wanted to breast feed her baby during her lunch hour.
She said when she made the link between her health problems and chemicals, she was told by one member of staff to hold her breath, instead of using a mask, because there wasn't one available.
She also complained of a lack of protective gloves or clothing.
She said: "I did not want to be working in that environment. I was scared for my health, and I was frightened that because the chemicals were affecting me so badly, they would enter my breast milk."
Proceeding
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