Silica exposure and disease in semi-precious stone craftsmen, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Brazil is an exporter of precious stones and craftsmen often work in poor conditions. We assessed silica-related diseases among crystal craftsmen and the complexity of its control.


METHODS
Case-series including 118 subjects evaluated from 2006 to 2015, based on medical interviews, chest X-rays, spirometry, and respirable silica samples.


RESULTS
Median age and length of exposure were 32 and 13 years, respectively. Silicosis, with 1/0 as a threshold, was diagnosed radiologically in 57 individuals (48.3%). Respirable silica concentrations were 0.9-29.3 times greater than the Brazilian occupational exposure limit. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve with the same diagnosis threshold showed best discrimination at a cut point of 12.5 years of exposure, corresponding to 4.85 mg-y/m3 of cumulative silica exposure. There was a significant decline in FEV1 across radiological and cumulative silica exposure categories. Eleven individuals (9.3%) had mycobacterial diseases at baseline or follow-up.


CONCLUSION
Crystal craftsmen continue to suffer from silicosis, lung function impairment, comorbidity, and death due to silicosis. To date collective protection in some work sheds has not diminished silica levels. Long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate further improvements in preventive measures. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:239-247, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
['Carneiro|Ana Paula S|AP|', 'Braz|Nayara F T|NF|', 'Algranti|Eduardo|E|', 'Bezerra|Olivia M P A|OM|', 'Araujo|Natália P S|NP|', 'Amaral Eng Hyg|Lênio S|LS|', 'Edmé|Jean L|JL|', 'Sobaszek|Annie|A|', 'Chérot-Kornobis|Nathalie|N|']
D000328:Adult D001938:Brazil D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume D006801:Humans D019570:Inhalation Exposure D055498:Jewelry D008297:Male D016273:Occupational Exposure D011859:Radiography D012822:Silicon Dioxide D012829:Silicosis D013147:Spirometry
stone craftsmen spirometry silicosis occupational exposure tuberculosis