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31 dead, nearly 600 ill due to lung disease linked to stone countertop exposure: study
WJAR • • general
Key Points:
- Since 2019, California has identified nearly 600 cases of silicosis, a fatal lung disease, among workers fabricating engineered-stone countertops, with 31 deaths and 65 lung transplants reported.
- Engineered-stone slabs, often marketed as quartz countertops, can contain over 90% crystalline silica, exposing workers to harmful dust during cutting and finishing processes.
- The affected workers were relatively young, with a median diagnosis age of 46 and median death age of 52, and 98% of cases involved Latino men.
- Despite strengthened silica regulations and increased surveillance following the first known case in 2019, hazardous exposures continue, and the true disease burden is likely underestimated due to reliance on passive reporting and inconsistent screening.
- Challenges remain in enforcing workplace safety rules, and misdiagnosis of silicosis is common, highlighting the need for improved worker and clinician awareness.
