Non-invasive techniques to assess restrictive lung disease in workers exposed to free crystalline silica.

Objectives: To compare the reliability of spirometry and body plethysmography in detecting restrictive lung disease in clay excavation workers exposed to free crystalline silica (FCS). The exhaled breath condensate (EBC) biomarkers of oxidative stress were also assessed in order to evaluate early lung damage.

Methods: The study involved 62 workers (58 males and 4 females) at a company that extracts and processes clay.