California Reports Surge in Silicosis Cases Linked to Engineered-Stone Countertops

California has recorded almost 600 cases of silicosis, a severe lung disease, among workers involved in making engineered-stone countertops since early 2019, according to a recent public health report.

The California Department of Public Health shared its findings on Wednesday in a report, highlighting that out of 592 cases, there have been 31 fatalities and 65 individuals necessitating lung transplants.

“Silicosis is a progressive, incurable fibrotic lung disease caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica,” the report states. It points out that over the last two decades, an increasing risk has emerged among workers fabricating countertops that contain crystalline silica.

Engineered-stone slabs, commonly known as quartz countertops, can consist of at least 90% crystalline silica, which poses a danger to workers during cutting or finishing operations.

The reported cases from January 2019 to June 2026 stand out due to the relatively young ages of those affected, as well as the quick progression of the disease, health officials noted. The median age at which patients were diagnosed was 46, while those who died from silicosis had a median age of 52.

The data revealed that nearly all diagnosed were men, and 98% identified as Latino. This troubling trend prompted the expansion of California’s surveillance program, which began after the state tracked its first known case among a countertop fabricator in 2019. That individual, diagnosed at 32, tragically succumbed to respiratory failure at the age of 38.

While the report indicates that California has made strides in enhancing silica regulations and increasing surveillance, it acknowledges ongoing challenges in effective enforcement of workplace safety rules. “Despite these interventions, hazardous worker exposures persist in California,” the report warns. It also mentions that although California’s silicosis surveillance has broadened, the actual impact of the disease might still be underestimated, largely because the system depends on passive reporting of diagnosed cases. While active screening has improved due to better awareness among workers and clinicians, issues with consistency and frequent misdiagnoses continue to be problematic.