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31 dead, nearly 600 ill due to lung disease linked to stone countertop exposure: study
WOAI • • health
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.
- Silicosis is caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica, which is abundant in engineered-stone slabs used for quartz countertops, exposing workers during cutting and finishing processes.
- The affected workers are predominantly young, with a median diagnosis age of 46 and a median death age of 52, mostly men and 98% Latino, showing rapid disease progression after relatively short exposure periods.
- California expanded its surveillance program after the first known case in 2019, leading to stronger regulations, but enforcement challenges remain and hazardous exposures continue.
- Despite increased awareness and screening, the true extent of silicosis is likely underestimated due to reliance on passive reporting, inconsistent screening, and frequent misdiagnosis.
