Silicosis From Quartz Countertops Poses Devastating Risks for Workers Cutting Engineered Stone

Researchers warn about the serious risk quartz countertop workers face from silicosis, which is often misdiagnosed and may be a more widespread problem than previously believed.

For the last several years, there have been growing concerns over the potential side effects of silica dust, which is released by quartz and other engineered stone countertops, and often inhaled by construction workers and laborers, causing a potentially deadly lung condition known as silicosis.

Silicosis from quartz countertops is an irreversible and often deadly respiratory condition caused by breathing in silica, a chemical compound that is mixed with naturally occurring quartz to make countertops. It often begins with lung inflammation and scarring, and eventually progresses to lung failure.

Fabricated quartz countertops, also referred to as “engineered stone,” pose a significant silicosis hazard for workers because they are exposed to a large volume of silica dust, data shows. In addition to silicosis risks among quartz countertop workers, previous research has also linked silica dust inhalation to lung cancer.

A new case series published in the medical journal Thorax last month highlights the link between quartz countertops and silicosis, indicating that at least eight migrant laborers working in southern England developed silicosis after cutting and polishing artificial stone.

A team of researchers led by Dr. Johanna Feary of London’s Royal Brompton Hospital examined and treated the eight men, most of whom had been exposed to silica dust in their jobs for years, with the median exposure being 12.5 years, but some of the cases of silicosis had developed in as little as four to eight years.

The series indicates one of the men has died, and two have been referred for lung transplant. According to the researchers, these are the first known cases of silicosis linked to artificial stone that have been diagnosed in the U.K., but it appears the problems are much more prevalent than previously believed.

Silicosis Misdiagnosis Concerns

Dr. Feary’s team warns that cases of silicosis could be mistaken for sarcoidosis, which is a disease that causes lumps or nodules to form in the lungs, lymph nodes, and other parts of the body due to development of clusters of inflammatory cells. Both are rare diseases, and silicosis is not something physicians are currently aware they need to look for among quartz countertop workers, the researchers indicated.

“All cases were dry cutting and polishing AS (artificial stone) worktops with inadequate safety measures. Clinical features of silicosis can closely mimic sarcoidosis,” Dr. Feary reported. “UK cases are likely to increase, with urgent action needed to identify cases and enforce regulations.”

Similar findings have already been reported in the U.S., including in a study published last year in JAMA Internal Medicine, in which researchers identified 52 cases of silicosis among quartz countertop workers in California.

Like in the new U.K. report, the majority of cases were identified among male migrant workers.

In the U.S. study, researchers warned that doctors initially failed to diagnose silicosis in 30 of the patients, or 58%. In most of those cases, the men were given a misdiagnosis of bacterial pneumonia or tuberculosis. The delayed silicosis diagnosis often led to patients suffering from advanced progression of the disease before they were properly diagnosed.

Quartz Countertop Silicosis Lawsuits

These new findings provide additional evidence that supports a growing number of silicosis lawsuits now being pursued by quartz countertop workers throughout the U.S., each raising similar allegations that manufacturers and distributors of the engineered stone products failed to adequately warn about the long-term health risks from breathing silica dust.

Lawsuits also indicate that steps could have been taken to reduce the risk for countertop workers, to minimize exposure to silica dust while fabricating, cutting and installing the artificial stone products.

Silicosis lawyers are providing free consultations and claim evaluations for quartz countertop workers who have been left with devastating and life-changing injuries. There are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.