Silicosis Hits Workers in the Countertops Industry

Disease Once Linked to Mining Hits Workers in Countertops Industry

A deadly lung disease, Silicosis, hits workers in the countertops industry. This deadly lung disease that has long been most prevalent among miners is now increasingly prevalent among a new demographic: people who work with the most popular types of stone countertops found in kitchens and bathrooms. Health experts are warning that silicosis, an incurable disease caused by inhaling silica dust, is re-emerging as a growing occupational health disaster in the countertop industry. “A new law could enforce a crackdown on the toxic kitchen worktop dust behind a surge in cases of a deadly lung disease among young tradespeople,” according to The Paper.

As the trend of engineered stone countertops becomes more popular in homes across the United States, the people who work with these materials are increasingly being exposed to dangerous levels of silica dust. Experts agree that the trend is causing a rise in severe cases of silicosis among young people.

A Disease Long Associated With Mining

Silicosis, in particular, has been traditionally linked with mining, quarrying, sandblasting, and construction sites. It occurs when workers breathe in dust containing microscopic particles of crystalline silica, a common component of most types of rock and sand. Eventually, these particles lodge in the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring that makes breathing more difficult with each passing year.

Silicosis is incurable, and in extreme cases, patients experience coughing, exhaustion, and death from respiratory failure, with some patients needing lung transplants.

While safety measures in workplaces have minimized silicosis in traditional industries, a growing number of cases are being reported among countertop workers, say experts.

The Rise of Engineered Stone

Much of the issue is driven by the recent rise in popularity of engineered stone, typically marketed as quartz countertops. It is made by crushing quartz, then blending it with resins and other pigments, which are then molded into a strong surface for kitchens and bathrooms.

It contains extremely high levels of silica, as high as 90%, as opposed to 3% to 30% in natural stone like granite and marble.

When workers are cutting, grinding, polishing, or drilling these materials, they can breathe in clouds of microscopic silica dust, especially if they are not provided with ventilation, water suppression, or respirators. “González, who was diagnosed with silicosis in 2023, is not alone in dealing with a disease that once was associated with miners at the end of long careers. It’s now prevalent among the much younger, often Hispanic men who work in this industry, physicians and public health officials say,” according to CBS News.

According to public health experts, the popularity of engineered stone has generated a number of new hazards in small fabrication shops where safety levels may vary.

A Growing Number of Cases

In recent years, a growing number of silicosis cases among countertop workers in the United States and around the world have been reported by health officials.

Since 2019, dozens of silicosis cases, as well as deaths, have been reported in California alone among workers in their 30s and 40s.

In addition, more than 1,000 cases of silicosis among countertop workers worldwide, attributed to countertop fabrication, have been reported since 2010.

Studies have shown that silicosis among countertop workers could be widespread. In a study on workers who install countertops, dozens of workers were diagnosed with silicosis, with many suffering from advanced cases of the disease, with some requiring lung transplants.

In some states, health departments are warning workers about silicosis after the first cases are reported in their states. In Massachusetts, for example, health officials have issued a warning after a worker who had spent more than a decade making stone countertops was diagnosed with silicosis.

Younger Workers Affected

A worrying trend is also that some of these patients are very young. “Silicosis has traditionally been a disease of people aged over 50, after decades of working in mines or factories,” says Dr. David Pilon, a pulmonologist who is treating some of these patients.

The rate at which some of these patients are developing this disease is also alarming. “Some of these people are developing very severe disease in fewer than 10 years of work,” says Pilon.

Some of these workers are also immigrants who are employed in smaller fabrication factories, where they are not provided with adequate protective equipment. Research has also shown that a large number of these patients are Latino males aged between 30-40 years.

The reason for this faster development of silicosis among these patients could also be that engineered stones contain very high levels of silica.

Calls for Stronger Safety Measures

Occupational safety experts stress that silicosis can be entirely prevented if proper control measures are taken.

The control measures taken to ensure a safe working environment include the use of wet cutting techniques to reduce dust formation, the use of efficient ventilation systems, and the use of respirators by workers. This can significantly reduce the risk of exposure to harmful silica particles.

In the United States, the federal government regulates the amount of exposure to respirable silica particles. However, some fabrication shops have been found to exceed the set limits.

Policy Debates and Global Response

The increasing number of cases has also led to debates regarding regulation and industry responsibility.

There have been some legislative attempts to introduce legislation regarding liabilities and safety regulations for the countertop industry. At the same time, public health activists are advocating for increased regulation of engineered stone products and practices.

Other countries have even taken measures to ban engineered stone products. For example, Australia banned the product in 2024 following an alarming rate of silicosis cases among workers.

Medical practitioners are increasingly advocating for discussions regarding silicosis cases in the US, considering the risk of it becoming an occupational health crisis.

A Warning for Workers and Consumers

Experts emphasize to the public that those who have already installed a countertop made of quartz are not in danger. The danger lies only during the production phase when the material is being cut or ground into dust.

The increasing number of silicosis infections is making people more aware of the health hazards associated with popular home improvement materials.

For those working in the countertop industry, the alarm bells are ringing. If proper safety measures are not taken, the risk of silicosis infection can continue to spread through the industry—a countertop at a time.

By David Loran Jr

A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.

Sources:

CBS News: Disease once linked to mining hits workers in countertops industry

The Paper: Kitchen worktop dust is killing tradespeople. A new law could finally ban it

Featured Image Courtesy of Michel Kalff’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Dr. Yale Rosen Atlas of Pulmonary Pathology’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License