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What Is Silicosis? What To Know As Hundreds Fall Ill From Stone Countertops
newsweek.com • • health
Key Points:
- A report from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) identified 592 confirmed cases of silicosis among engineered-stone countertop workers in California between 2019 and 2026, with at least 31 deaths and 65 lung transplants.
- Silicosis is an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust, which is released during cutting, grinding, or polishing engineered stone that can contain over 90% silica.
- The disease can develop without obvious symptoms and is often diagnosed late, with symptoms including persistent cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath; silicosis can lead to severe lung damage, disability, or death.
- California's outbreak is the largest known in the U.S., but cases have also been reported in other states; experts warn there may be thousands more undiagnosed cases nationwide.
- Workers, especially young immigrant men, are advised to seek medical evaluation if exposed to silica dust, and employers should implement dust control measures like wet cutting and ventilation to reduce risk.
