California Poised to Ban Quartz Countertops Over Deadly Silicosis Epidemic
California is moving towards banning the fabrication of human-made quartz countertops due to an 'epidemic' of silicosis, a deadly lung disease, among workers who cut and shape the material. State officials have described this action as necessary because years of workplace safety rules have failed to prevent the disease. Engineered quartz, a popular countertop material made primarily from crushed quartz and polymer resins, contains high concentrations of crystalline silica (85%-95%), significantly more than natural stones like granite (around 40%). When workers cut, grind, or sand this material, tiny silica particles are released and can become lodged in the lungs, causing irreversible scarring. California has confirmed 660 cases of engineered-stone silicosis and 35 deaths. If adopted, this prohibition would make California the first state to effectively remove high-silica-engineered stone from countertop fabrication shops.
