Hundreds of California quartz countertop workers developed an incurable lung condition. Dozens died
Researchers say the true toll is likely higher because screening is inconsistent and many workers are diagnosed only after severe lung damage.
- On Wednesday, the California Department of Public Health released a report in NEJM Evidence documenting 631 silicosis cases and 35 deaths among engineered-stone workers since 2019, with cases tracked through June 2026.
- Silicosis is a progressive, incurable lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust generated during cutting or polishing of engineered-stone products, which contain more than 90 percent crystalline silica.
- Researchers found the outbreak disproportionately affects Latino workers, who comprise 98 percent of cases; the median diagnosis age is 46, and 11 percent of patients have undergone lung transplants.
- California implemented the Silicosis Training, Outreach, and Prevention Act, or SB 20, which bans dry-cutting practices and mandates that employers provide safety training and use wet-cutting methods.
- While Australia became the first country to ban engineered stone due to health risks, other nations, including Germany, have instead focused on stricter workplace exposure controls rather than total prohibition.
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'Killer Kitchens': Calls Grow for UK Ban on Quartz Countertops as Incurable Lung Disease Cases Rise
Campaigners, doctors and trade unions are renewing calls for the UK to ban engineered quartz worktops as cases of the incurable lung disease silicosis continue to emerge among workers who cut and install the material. Popular for their durability and low-maintenance finish, engineered quartz surfaces have become a staple in modern kitchens. However, investigations by Sky News and The i Paper, published under the banner Killer Kitchens, have high…
Hundreds of California quartz countertop workers developed an incurable lung condition. Dozens died
A new study based on more than seven years of data in California is raising alarms about silicosis, an incurable and sometimes deadly lung disease linked to quartz countertop manufacturing.
98% of cases of artificial stone silicosis in California affect Latino men. Symptoms, risky jobs and how to protect yourself
An outbreak of silicosis in California, a disease caused by inhaling silica dust, has affected hundreds of workers who cut and polish engineered quartz surfaces. According to data published by the California Department of Public Health in August 2016, 592 cases of silicosis have been identified among workers who manufacture quartz countertops since 2019. Of these, 31 have died and 65 have required a lung transplant. The state believes the number…
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