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31 dead, nearly 600 ill due to lung disease linked to stone countertop exposure: study
KOMO • • general
Key Points:
- California identified 592 cases of silicosis, including 31 deaths and 65 lung transplants, among engineered-stone countertop workers since 2019, according to a new public health report.
- Silicosis is a progressive and incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica, which is present in engineered-stone slabs often used for quartz countertops.
- The affected workers were relatively young, with a median diagnosis age of 46 and a median death age of 52; nearly all were men and 98% were Latino.
- California's expanded surveillance and stronger silica regulations have improved detection and prevention, but hazardous exposures and underreporting persist due to inconsistent screening and misdiagnosis.
- The report highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing workplace safety rules and calls for increased awareness and active screening to better estimate the true burden of silicosis.
