Quartz countertops are linked to 668 silicosis cases in California, and a statewide ban could be next. The health risk comes from cutting engineered stone, which can release fine silica dust that scars workers' lungs. Once the damage sets in, the disease can be deadly.
Raphael Metzger, an attorney based in Long Beach, learned about that risk after he had picked quartz for his kitchen. His tan and white counter had gold flecks, looked good, and seemed easy to clean. Then his firm took a case tied to a Los Angeles stone shop.
That case changed his view. Metzger has since brought roughly 260 legal claims for workers exposed to stone dust. He also worries about the crew that fitted his kitchen, though the finished surface is safe when left intact.
And there is a lot of cash tied to the material. Engineered stone is part of a global business worth about $30 billion. Brands such as Caesarstone, Cosentino, and Cambria have helped make quartz a common pick for homes and other buildings.
The name can be a bit vague, though. Engineered quartz blends crushed mineral grains with resin and color, then uses heat and pressure to form slabs. Quartzite is a separate type of natural rock. It has silica as well, but has not been tied to the same pattern of harm.
Peter Dominguez, who runs California Surfaces in Santa Fe Springs, has seen the issue up close. His 65-person firm works on homes, hospitals, and airports, and quartz used to make up at least 85% of its orders.
Even with wet cutting and a robot saw to help limit dust, Dominguez chose to quit quartz jobs. His shop has moved toward products made with amorphous silica, which can offer much of the same look and use.
But getting builders to change their plans has been hard. Many jobs already call for certain slabs, and a new material means extra work for contractors. Dominguez fears that firms may struggle to finish jobs if the ban takes effect before they adapt.
California regulators have also had to sort out what the rule would cover. A revised draft targets man-made stone rather than all rock with silica. Baths, floors, and fireplace surfaces fall within its scope, not just kitchen counters.
Small cuts needed for a minor fit would get different treatment under the proposed wording. More extensive changes to a slab during installation would fall under the ban.
Industry groups have pushed back. The International Surface Fabricators Association prefers a permit system for stone shops, rather than a full ban. Health advocates and businesses have also sought clearer rules on which materials would be affected.
For California's stone trade, the choice is far from simple. Regulators want fewer workers breathing harmful dust, while firms face the cost of changing materials and work plans. The proposed ban has yet to become final.
Raphael Metzger, an attorney based in Long Beach, learned about that risk after he had picked quartz for his kitchen. His tan and white counter had gold flecks, looked good, and seemed easy to clean. Then his firm took a case tied to a Los Angeles stone shop.
That case changed his view. Metzger has since brought roughly 260 legal claims for workers exposed to stone dust. He also worries about the crew that fitted his kitchen, though the finished surface is safe when left intact.
And there is a lot of cash tied to the material. Engineered stone is part of a global business worth about $30 billion. Brands such as Caesarstone, Cosentino, and Cambria have helped make quartz a common pick for homes and other buildings.
The name can be a bit vague, though. Engineered quartz blends crushed mineral grains with resin and color, then uses heat and pressure to form slabs. Quartzite is a separate type of natural rock. It has silica as well, but has not been tied to the same pattern of harm.
Peter Dominguez, who runs California Surfaces in Santa Fe Springs, has seen the issue up close. His 65-person firm works on homes, hospitals, and airports, and quartz used to make up at least 85% of its orders.
Even with wet cutting and a robot saw to help limit dust, Dominguez chose to quit quartz jobs. His shop has moved toward products made with amorphous silica, which can offer much of the same look and use.
But getting builders to change their plans has been hard. Many jobs already call for certain slabs, and a new material means extra work for contractors. Dominguez fears that firms may struggle to finish jobs if the ban takes effect before they adapt.
California regulators have also had to sort out what the rule would cover. A revised draft targets man-made stone rather than all rock with silica. Baths, floors, and fireplace surfaces fall within its scope, not just kitchen counters.
Small cuts needed for a minor fit would get different treatment under the proposed wording. More extensive changes to a slab during installation would fall under the ban.
Industry groups have pushed back. The International Surface Fabricators Association prefers a permit system for stone shops, rather than a full ban. Health advocates and businesses have also sought clearer rules on which materials would be affected.
For California's stone trade, the choice is far from simple. Regulators want fewer workers breathing harmful dust, while firms face the cost of changing materials and work plans. The proposed ban has yet to become final.
