California moves to prohibit quartz countertop manufacturing over silica health risks
California will become the first state to ban quartz countertop production after a health report linked the process to silicosis, a serious lung disease that has caused dozens of deaths among workers.
California is preparing to enact an emergency regulation that would prohibit the manufacturing of quartz countertops, citing a public health report that linked the industry to a significant number of silicosis cases. The report, issued by the California Department of Public Health, documented 592 confirmed cases of silicosis among quartz workers since early 2019, including 31 fatalities and 65 individuals who required lung transplants. The median age at diagnosis was reported as 46, while the median age of those who died was 52. The state's Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is expected to adopt the regulation in October.
Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, which is present in quartz and other minerals. Health officials note that silica dust is considerably more hazardous than coal dust and can lead to severe respiratory impairment after relatively short periods of exposure.