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California Poised to Ban Quartz Countertops Over Health Fears
8 Oct
Summary
- California may ban manufactured stone with over 1% crystalline silica.
- Nearly 600 workers contracted silicosis; 65 needed lung transplants.
- Silicosis is a fatal lung disease with no known cure.
California is on the verge of banning quartz countertops as an emergency regulation this October. The state's Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is considering a ban on manufactured stone with over 1% crystalline silica, driven by a surge in worker illnesses.
Between January 2019 and June 2026, health officials documented 592 cases of silicosis among quartz countertop fabrication workers in California. This has resulted in 65 workers needing lung transplants and 31 fatalities, highlighting the severe health risks associated with the material.
Silicosis, a serious and incurable lung disease, develops from inhaling crystalline silica dust, often encountered in occupational settings like stonework. The proposed ban, supported by state industrial relations departments, signifies an acknowledgment that current regulations have not adequately protected workers from this hazardous product.
