Hundreds of California quartz countertop workers developed an incurable lung condition. Dozens died - KCRA

A new study based on more than seven years of data in California is raising alarms about silicosis, an incurable and sometimes deadly lung disease linked to quartz countertop manufacturing. The study in the New England Journal of Medicine found 592 cases of silicosis among countertop fabrication workers from January 2019 through June 2026. The disease is caused by breathing in silica dust released while cutting and polishing engineered stone, also known as artificial stone or quartz countertops. Of the hundreds of silicosis cases that were analyzed, 65 people underwent lung transplants, and 31 died. The median age of diagnosis for the condition was just 46 years old, and 98% of cases involved Latino men. California continues to track silicosis cases on a public dashboard, which shows a total of 631 cases and 35 deaths, as of Thursday. The Los Angeles Times reported that the artificial stone-cutting industry is centered in the San Fernando Valley. In 2023, Cal/OSHA adopted new standards to protect workers from breathing in silica dust. Workplace rules include always using water, using wet mops and dust-capturing machines, and wearing a powered air-purifying respirator while working. In June 2025, silicosis became a reportable disease in the state. Still, researchers say workers continue to face hazardous exposure and the "true burden of disease remains underestimated." "Although silicosis is preventable with reduction or elimination of silica dust exposure, the water-based tools and ventilation systems required to control silica dust are costly to install and maintain, and overexposures can occur even with recommended controls in place," the study says. "In addition, enforcement of existing regulations is challenging. In 2024, Cal/OSHA was able to inspect only 85 of California’s over 1,300 countertop fabrication shops, of which 95% were in violation of safety regulations." Some occupational health experts are calling for a ban on engineered stone products altogether. That's what Australia did in 2024. Since then, manufacturers have developed alternative products made of amorphous silica, which has a lower risk of leading to silicosis, according to the study. "Protecting workers from further exposure will require a multifaceted approach, including clinicians’ identifying and reporting of cases to public health authorities, improved surveillance by local and state jurisdictions, and policy changes," the NEJM study says. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google