U.S. Workers Sue Over Quartz Countertops as California Silicosis Cases Top 550
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 18
U.S. Workers Sue Over Quartz Countertops as California Silicosis Cases Top 550
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 18
Summary
Hundreds of U.S. countertop workers are suing manufacturers, distributors and retailers including Home Depot, Lowe’s and Costco over silicosis tied to engineered stone.
California has recorded more than 550 cases, with at least 100 workers having undergone or awaiting lung transplants and at least 30 deaths since 2019.
Engineered stone—often sold as quartz—can contain up to 95% crystalline silica, and cutting or polishing it releases fine dust that causes a severe, fast-progressing and incurable lung disease.
The legal pressure is building after a 2024 trial awarded $52 million to a 36-year-old worker who needed a double lung transplant, while some earlier cases settled out of court.
Roughly 100,000 U.S. workers are employed in countertop fabrication, but most states do not track the disease; California is pursuing stricter rules as Australia has already banned products with more than 1% crystalline silica.
Australia has banned deadly engineered stone countertops. Why are they still being sold across the United States?
As workers win multi-million dollar lawsuits, what is the true cost of America's most popular countertop?
Why are manufacturers lobbying to block victim lawsuits instead of removing a product known to kill workers?
Engineered Stone Silicosis Epidemic: 538 Cases and 29 Deaths in California Signal Urgent Need for Reform
Overview
The silicosis epidemic among U.S. countertop workers has reached a crisis point, with California reporting over 500 cases, dozens of deaths, and many lung transplants linked to engineered stone. Most affected are low-income Latino immigrant men who were unaware of the risks until they became ill. The disease is occupational, but the high cost of treatment has mostly fallen on state taxpayers instead of being covered by workers' compensation. This situation highlights serious gaps in workplace safety, awareness, and accountability, showing the urgent need for better protection and support for vulnerable workers.