title: An old threat in a new setting: High prevalence of silicosis among jewelry workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Silicosis is caused by inhaling free crystalline silica. Few case reports have addressed the risk of silicosis in the jewelry trade where chalk molds containing a high percentage of silica are used in casting. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 100 goldsmiths exposed to silica.
  
  
  METHODS
  All workers replied to a questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination, pulmonary function tests, a chest X-ray and a high-resolution CT scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-resolution CT visualized signs of silicosis in 23 cases, confirmed by standard chest X-rays in 10. In the 23 workers with CT evidence of silicosis Total Lung Capacity, FEV1 and the Lung Diffusing Capacity did not differ from the workers without the disease. Pulmonary function tests did not correlate with silica exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study we demonstrate that use of chalk molds in casting in jewelry causes silicosis. The composition of the dust could be responsible of the high prevalence observed.
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Respiratory Diseases and Toxicology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. nicola.murgia@med.unipg.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muzi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dell'Omo
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sallese
authors.forename: Cesario
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ciccotosto
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scatolini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zingarelli
authors.forename: Maria Patrizia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Accattoli
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melchiorri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbritti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015995:Prevalence; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014109:Total Lung Capacity
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide