Doctors Petition California to Ban Countertop Material Linked to Deadly Disease
KQED••health
Key Points:
- The Western Occupational & Environmental Medical Association (WOEMA) has petitioned California to ban the use of engineered stone containing more than 1% crystalline silica, citing the material's link to severe lung disease silicosis among stoneworkers.
- California currently has strict silica dust regulations, but many countertop fabrication shops struggle to comply, putting thousands of workers, mostly Latino men and immigrants, at risk; about 450 silicosis cases have been confirmed since 2019, with numbers expected to rise.
- Industry groups like the International Surface Fabricators Association oppose a ban, advocating instead for improved enforcement and a licensing system for certified shops, arguing a ban could harm small and mid-size businesses.
- Engineered stone, popular for its
