The measurement of peak VO2 remains the best available index for the assessment of exercise capacity 32 In the current study, while almost all the sandblasters failed to reach at least 80% of the peak VO2 (% predicted), this occurred in
less than half of the stone carvers. Violante et al 10 who evaluated 45 silicosis patients with different occupational fields
including foundry work, coal or metal mining and milling,and sandblasting, observed peak VO2 values (% predicted)
below 80% in 35 patients