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.