Massachusetts confirms first silicosis case linked to quartz countertops

Massachusetts health officials announced Tuesday that the state has confirmed its first case of an incurable lung disease linked to exposure to certain countertops.

According to health officials, the disease is associated with quartz, which has become increasingly popular especially in recent years due to its practicality and aesthetics.

A 40-year-old man who worked in the stone countertop industry for 14 years was recently diagnosed with silicosis, a condition that can cause death, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) said.

“The confirmation of this case in Massachusetts is a tragic reminder that silicosis is not just a distant threat, it is here too and seriously impacts the health of workers in Massachusetts,” DPH director Emily H. Sparer-Fine said in a statement.

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It was reported that the patient, whose name was not disclosed, performed activities that could create crystalline silica dust, such as cutting, grinding and polishing. When inhaled, this dust injures lung tissue and can lead to silicosis, DPH said.

The disease is preventable but irreversible and progressive, officials said. Symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. Diagnoses are often delayed because there is often a long lag time between exposure and onset of symptoms, according to DPH. The ministry added that as the disease progresses, it can lead to serious complications such as lung cancer, tuberculosis and even death.

Authorities added that “most cases of silicosis are work-related; it is very rare for silicosis to occur outside of workplace exposure.”

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Father and son install quartz countertops at their booth in Albany on September 15, 2011. (John Carl D’Annibale /Albany Times Union)

The risk is present when working with natural stones such as granite, but is particularly high when working with engineered stones such as quartz, officials said. While natural granite typically contains less than 45% silica, engineered stone can contain more than 90%, DPH reported.

“The disease has become more common among stone fabrication workers in recent years due to the increased popularity of countertops made of engineered stone (also known as quartz or artificial stone),” DPH said.

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An employee applies sealant to kitchen countertop slabs on May 14, 2014. (Craig Warga/Bloomberg)

Although this is the first confirmed case in this industry in Massachusetts, more cases are expected due to the long latent period of the disease and the increasing popularity of engineered stones, the department said.

Cases of silicosis have also been reported in other states. In a 2023 study, California researchers found that 52 quartz countertop workers had silicosis. The disease of 20 of them progressed and 10 of them died.

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Despite the potential severity of the disease, there has been no outright ban on the use of quartz in U.S. kitchens. In contrast, all work involving engineered stone is already banned in Australia due to serious risks to workers. Other countries are also pushing for more regulations.

DPH emphasizes that silicosis is “absolutely preventable” through appropriate workplace controls. The warning urges employers in the stone countertop manufacturing industry to implement effective safety measures, such as wet cutting and proper ventilation, to minimize silica exposure and protect workers.

“Silicosis is a devastating, life-changing disease that is also completely preventable,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, said in a statement.