Quartz Countertops Face US Ban as Silicosis Crisis Deepens
California is moving to ban the fabrication of engineered quartz countertops containing over 1% crystalline silica, following a surge in fatal silicosis cases among workers. While Australia implemented a similar ban in 2024, no single alternative material perfectly replicates quartz’s durability and low-maintenance appeal, forcing homeowners to weigh trade-offs between porcelain, granite, and quartzite.