Engineered Stone Countertops Linked to Nearly Three Dozen Deaths and 600 Silicosis Cases

Nearly three dozen workers have died and hundreds more have become ill after being exposed to hazardous dust while fabricating popular quartz countertops.

California health officials said in a new report that, since 2019, they have documented 31 deaths and 600 cases of illness tied to the countertop material, with diagnoses rising sharply in recent years.

Every patient was diagnosed with silicosis, sometimes referred to as “black lung,” an incurable disease that scars the lungs, makes breathing increasingly difficult and raises the risk of serious infections.

Quartz countertops have surged in popularity among homeowners, valued for their durability, stain resistance and lower cost compared with natural stone or marble.

The engineered slabs are typically made from about 90 percent silica mixed with 10 percent resin and pigments, but cutting and shaping them can send tiny particles of silica dust into the air.

Workers can inhale that dust during fabrication, allowing the particles to lodge deep inside lung tissue, where they can cause inflammation, scarring and ultimately silicosis.

There is currently no cure for the disease, and a lung transplant is considered the only effective treatment for advanced cases.

In the report, released this week, health officials said that patients were 45 years old on average, while, among those who died, the average age was 52 years.

Sixty-five of the cases also resulted in a lung transplant, they said, while 113 were referred for the procedure.

Almost all were men and from a Latino background.

From 2019, California was recording four to five cases of silicosis every year, the report suggests.

But since 2021, that number has surged into double digits. In 2025, 103 cases were confirmed while, so far in 2026, 150 cases have been detected.

It is not clear why cases are surging, but experts say this may be linked to rising awareness of the condition leading to more patients coming forward. In some cases, the condition is also initially misdiagnosed.

Dr David Michaels, an occupational health expert who led the report, said: ‘Hundreds of workers have been sickened making quartz countertops, a product we do not need, especially when a safer alternative is available.

‘Given the hundreds of diagnosed cases of silicosis in California, there are likely thousands of more cases across the country.

‘Health care practitioners and public health departments should be on the lookout for casesa and join the effort to stop this epidemic and save workers lives.’

Experts hope that the report may now underline the need for greater surveillance of silicosis across the US. 

It is not clear how many people in the US may have silicosis, but the American Lung Association estimates 2.3 million workers in the US are exposed to silica in the workplace, including 2 million in construction.

A 2023 study that analyzed official data suggested that West Virginia had the highest rates of silicosis in the US, followed by New Mexico and Nevada. 

Those who are at risk of the condition are people that chip, cut, drill or grind quartz, granite, sandstone or other materials that can expose them to silica dust. 

Alongside countertop fabrication workers, those who work in demolition, mining and foundries are also considered to be at higher risk. 

People who have quartz countertops in their homes are not considered to be at risk from silicosis because they are not cutting into the stone. 

Warning signs of the condition include a long-lasting cough, difficulty breathing and chest or back pain. It can also trigger fatigue, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats and chest pain.

The American Lung Association says it is possible to prevent silica dust exposure by wearing tight-fitting N95 masks while working with substances that can release the dust.

Employers in the US are required by law to protect their workers from silica, the organization adds.