California reports 31 silicosis deaths and nearly 600 cases linked to engineered-stone countertop work
A state health report identified 592 silicosis cases among countertop fabricators since 2019, including 31 fatalities and 65 lung transplants, highlighting rapid disease progression in relatively young, predominantly Latino workers.
California health officials have documented 592 cases of silicosis among workers who fabricate engineered-stone countertops since early 2019, the report said, including 31 deaths and 65 lung transplants. The disease, caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica, has been linked to the high silica content—often 90% or more—in quartz-style slabs used for countertops. Workers are exposed during cutting and finishing operations.
The median age at diagnosis was 46, and those who died had a median age of 52, underscoring the disease’s rapid progression. Almost all affected individuals were men, and 98% identified as Latino. The first known California case involved a 32-year-old fabricator who died at 38, prompting an expansion of the state’s surveillance program.
"Silicosis is a progressive, incurable fibrotic lung disease caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica," the report stated.
State regulators have tightened silica exposure limits and increased surveillance, yet officials acknowledge ongoing challenges. The report notes that reliance on passive reporting likely underestimates the true burden, and that screening remains inconsistent, leading to frequent misdiagnoses.
"Despite these interventions, hazardous worker exposures persist in California," the report added.