Dusty Crisis: California's Engineered Quartz Silicosis Sparks Legal Battles
California faces a rising silicosis crisis among workers who cut and polish engineered quartz countertops; the incurable disease can develop after as little as two years of exposure. More than 500 Californians who work with the material have contracted the disease (median age 46), with over 50 needing lung transplants and 29 deaths. Cal/OSHA has tightened processing rules, while lawsuits mount against slab makers and retailers. Advocates push for a ban or licensing; opponents say safety controls can work. The burden disproportionately affects Latino immigrant men, as shown by Oakland’s Jose Peña.
