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massachusetts state health official The state announced Tuesday that it has confirmed its first case of an incurable lung disease linked to exposure from certain countertop stones.
Health officials say the disease is particularly linked to quartz, which has become popular in recent years for its practicality and beauty.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that a 40-year-old man who has worked in the stone countertop industry for 14 years was recently diagnosed with silicosis, a potentially fatal disease.
“The confirmation of this case in Massachusetts is a tragic reminder that silicosis is not just a distant threat, it is here, too, and is seriously impacting the health of Massachusetts workers,” DPH Director Emily H. Sparler Fine said in a statement.
Kitchen with quartz countertops in Ballston Lake, NY on November 15, 2017. (John Carl Danielvale/Albany Times Union)
The anonymous patient reportedly performed cutting, grinding, and polishing tasks that could generate crystalline silica dust. Inhaling this dust can damage lung tissue and can cause: cause silicosissaid DPH.
Officials say the disease is preventable but irreversible and progressive. Symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. Diagnosis is often delayed because there is often a long incubation period between infection and the onset of symptoms, according to DPH. As the disease progresses, it can lead to serious complications such as lung cancer, tuberculosis, and even death, the department added.
Officials added that “most cases of silicosis are work-related and it is extremely rare for silicosis to occur outside of workplace exposure.”
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On September 15, 2011, father and son installed quartz countertops in their Albany booth. (John Carl Danielvale/Albany Times Union)
Officials said there are risks when working with natural stones such as granite, but the risks are especially high when working with man-made stones such as quartz. Natural granite typically contains less than 45% silica, while engineered stone can contain more than 90% silica, DPH reports.
“In recent years, due to the increased popularity of countertops made of engineered stone (also known as quartz or engineered stone), this disease has become more prevalent among stone processing workers,” DPH reported.
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An employee applies sealant to a countertop sheet on May 14, 2014. (Craig Warga/Bloomberg)
The department noted that while this is the first confirmed case in the industry in Massachusetts, more cases are expected due to the disease’s long incubation period and the growing popularity of engineered stone.
Cases of silicosis have also been reported in other states. In the 2023 survey, California researchers Fifty-two quartz countertop workers were identified as having silicosis. Of those, 20 had advanced disease and 10 died.
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Despite the potential severity of the disease, there is no complete ban. quartz in the us kitchen. In contrast, all work involving engineered stone is already banned in Australia because it poses a significant risk to workers. Other countries are also calling for further regulation.
DPH stresses that silicosis is “absolutely preventable” with proper workplace controls. This warning requires employers in the stone countertop manufacturing industry to take effective safety measures, such as wet cutting and proper ventilation, to minimize exposure to silica and protect workers.
“Silicosis is a devastating, life-altering disease, and it is also completely preventable,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, said in a statement.
