Tag

Silicosis

All articles tagged with #silicosis

health15 days ago•57 min saved

Stone-cutting illness spurs a second chance: a California dad’s battle with silicosis and a transplant

A San Fernando Valley stone worker, Enrique Gonzalez, developed silicosis after years of cutting engineered quartz countertops, leaving him unable to work and increasingly short of breath. He received a double lung transplant this summer and is now recovering at home with restrictions. California has seen a surge in silicosis cases (about 631 since 2019, with 31 deaths and 65 lung transplants), many undiagnosed; 151 cases so far this year. Gonzalez’s family is pursuing legal action against manufacturers they blame for the illness and has relied on GoFundMe to cover medical and daily costs, highlighting a broader occupational-health crisis tied to engineered stone.

via Yahoo|

#california #health #lung-transplant

health15 days ago•6 min saved

California Man Gets a Second Breath After Silicosis Battle

A San Fernando Valley stone worker with silicosis from engineered quartz countertops received a double lung transplant, marking a dramatic turn in his health after years of illness. California has seen hundreds of silicosis cases in recent years, many of which require transplants and have spurred legal action against manufacturers, underscoring a widening occupational-safety crisis in the stone industry.

via New York Post|

#california #health #lung-transplant

health16 days ago•34 min saved

Engineered stone dust linked to silicosis wave: 31 dead, hundreds ill

A new study ties silica dust from engineered stone countertop fabrication to a surge in silicosis-related lung disease, reporting 31 deaths and nearly 600 illnesses, with about 65 lung transplants among cases, prompting calls for stronger workplace protections and regulatory action.

via 13wham.com|

#crystalline-silica #engineered-stone #health

health17 days ago•32 min saved

Engineered-stone silica exposure tied to 31 deaths and nearly 600 illnesses, study finds

A California health study links crystalline silica exposure from engineered stone countertops to silicosis, reporting 31 deaths and nearly 600 illnesses, including 65 lung transplants, underscoring the need for tighter workplace protections for stone fabricators and construction workers.

via KATU|

#crystalline-silica #engineered-stone #health

health17 days ago•32 min saved

Engineered-stone silica dust linked to deadly silicosis in new study

A California public health study ties inhalation of crystalline silica dust from engineered stone countertops to silicosis, reporting 31 deaths and about 600 illnesses, including 65 lung transplants, underscoring the serious occupational risk for countertop fabricators and potential need for stronger workplace protections.

via WJAR|

#crystalline-silica #engineered-stone #health

health17 days ago•32 min saved

Engineered stone dust linked to silicosis, 31 deaths and nearly 600 ill, study finds

A California Department of Public Health study links silicosis from crystalline silica dust in engineered stone used for countertops to significant mortality and illness: 31 deaths and 65 lung transplants have been reported among affected workers, with nearly 600 ill, underscoring the need for stricter workplace protections for stone fabricators and construction workers.

via KOMO|

#countertop-fabrication #crystalline-silica #engineered-stone

health18 days ago•2 min saved

Quartz Countertop Workers in California Face Deadly Silicosis Spike

A seven-year California study links silica dust from engineered stone to silicosis, locating 592 cases (2019–2026) with 65 transplants and 31 deaths; most patients were Latino men and the median age at diagnosis was 46. Although safety rules exist and silicosis became reportable in 2025, exposure persists with few inspections and widespread violations, prompting calls for stronger controls (and even a ban on engineered stone) alongside safer substitutes and improved surveillance.

via KCRA|

#california #engineered-stone #health

health18 days ago•52 min saved

California Faces Sharp Rise in Silicosis Linked to Quartz Countertops, Study Finds

A California state study documents a surge in silicosis among workers exposed to silica dust from engineered quartz countertops, reporting 631 cases and 31 deaths since 2019, with about half of victims in Los Angeles County and a median age of 52; 65 lung transplants have occurred, and 151 cases have already been diagnosed this year (40 in the last month). Regulators say compliance with safety standards is poor and CAL/OSHA is weighing a ban on quartz countertops to curb the outbreak, following emergency standards implemented in 2023.

via Yahoo|

#california #calosha #health

health18 days ago•26 min saved

California Silicosis Surge Tied to Quartz Countertops Sparks Safety Push

A state study links a surge in silicosis among California workers to quartz/manufactured stone countertops, with about 631 cases since 2019 (151 this year, 40 in the last month), 31 deaths, and 65 lung transplants. Most victims are middle-aged men, many in Los Angeles County, and safety violations are widespread in shops handling engineered stone. Regulators attribute the crisis to rising demand for the material and are moving to stricter rules, including a potential ban on certain fabrication tasks. A GoFundMe is aiding Enrique Gonzalez, a San Fernando Valley worker affected by the disease.

via New York Post|

#cal-osha #california #health

us-news18 days ago•156 min saved

Silica Dust in Quartz Countertops Linked to 31 Deaths, California Health Officials Warn

A California Department of Public Health report finds that silicosis from silica dust in quartz countertop fabrication has sickened nearly 600 workers since 2019, with 65 requiring lung transplants and 31 deaths, prompting health officials to call for increased surveillance and preventative measures.

via The Daily Beast|

#california #health #quartz

health18 days ago•53 min saved

California’s engineered-stone boom tied to silicosis surge among countertop workers

Latino men who cut artificial stone countertops in California are developing silicosis, a deadly lung disease caused by silica dust. California public health data show a sharp rise in cases (hundreds since 2023) with dozens of deaths and many patients needing lung transplants. Experts are calling for stronger safety rules, and regulators have begun moving toward emergency measures to curb fabrication of engineered stone.

via Yahoo|

#california #engineered-stone #health

health-and-wellness20 days ago•7 min saved

California engineered-stone boom fuels silicosis surge among countertop workers

California’s engineered-stone countertop boom is driving a rapid silicosis outbreak among Latino men, with 571 cases reported in 2023–Aug 2026 (up from 47 in 2019–2022). Diagnoses skew younger (median age 46) and deaths occur earlier (median 52), with dozens undergoing or awaiting lung transplants. The San Fernando Valley is a hotspot, and exposure typically spans 16–25 years of work. Regulators have advanced tougher safety rules (SB 20, 2025) and emergency measures, but compliance remains inconsistent, fueling calls to stronger actions, including a potential ban on fabrication of engineered stone.

via Los Angeles Times|

#california #engineered-stone #health-and-wellness

health2 months ago•13 min saved

Engineered stone crisis: Quartz countertops linked to deadly silicosis in the U.S.

Two occupational health experts warn that engineered stone countertops (often marketed as quartz) expose workers to crystalline silica, fueling a growing silicosis crisis in the U.S. California has diagnosed more than 550 cases, with about 100 lung transplants and at least 30 deaths since 2019. Lawsuits against manufacturers and retailers are rising while enforcement remains under-resourced; global outbreaks have led to regulatory changes elsewhere, and calls mount for stricter rules or a US ban on crystalline silica–containing engineered stone.

via The Conversation|

#engineered-stone #health #occupational-health

health3 months ago•6 min saved

California weighs outright ban on engineered quartz to curb silicosis

California is considering banning the sale and installation of engineered quartz countertops to address a rising silicosis crisis among stone fabricators. While a 2024 rule tightened dry-cutting practices, health experts say it does not adequately protect workers, and a WOEMA petition asks regulators to ban the material, following Australia’s lead. The decision rests with the California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board and could take years to implement; meanwhile industry groups argue that safety measures and amorphous silica alternatives render a ban unnecessary.

via Payday Report|

#california #engineered-stone #health

health5 months ago•10 min saved

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.

via The Mercury News|

#california #calosha #health