August 6, 2026
Artificial stone has become a go-to choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Marketed as durable, affordable and easy to maintain, engineered stone products are now common in residential and commercial construction and in remodels. But behind this growing trend is a serious and often overlooked health risk for the workers who cut, grind and fabricate these slabs.
As demand for artificial stone has increased, so have diagnoses of silicosis, a progressive and incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust. Health experts and worker advocates warn that artificial stone silicosis represents a modern resurgence of an old, and deadly, occupational disease.
Causes of Artificial Stone Silicosis
Silicosis occurs when tiny particles of crystalline silica are inhaled and become trapped deep in the lungs. Over time, the body’s immune response causes inflammation and scarring, reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. When workers cut, polish, drill or grind artificial stone slabs, large amounts of fine silica dust are released into the air. Once inhaled, these particles can cause irreversible lung damage, even after relatively short periods of exposure.
Understanding what causes silicosis requires a close look at artificial stone itself. Engineered stone countertops often contain more than 90% pulverized crystalline silica bound together with resins, adhesives and pigments. This concentration of silica is much higher than what is found in natural stone such as granite or marble.
Artificial Stone’s Link to Rising Silicosis Diagnoses
The link between countertop fabrication and silicosis gained attention in 2014, when a Texas countertop worker became the first person in the United States diagnosed with silicosis tied to artificial stone. Since then, cases have continued to rise across the country as engineered stone products have captured more of the countertop market.
How to Prevent Silicosis
Attorneys and advocates argue that many cases of silicosis could be prevented through better warnings and safer product design. Public health officials are also raising alarms and asking for bans of these artificial stone products, noting that vulnerable populations tend to be the most at risk. In a study of 52 California artificial stone silicosis cases, many of the affected workers were immigrants. Nearly half had advanced disease, more than a dozen were referred for lung transplants, and 10 died from the disease. If workers are undocumented immigrants, cases may be underreported because their vulnerable immigration status makes these workers less likely to report early symptoms or unsafe conditions.
Lawsuits filed on behalf of affected workers allege that some manufacturers were aware of the risks but failed to disclose the dangers. Workers were not warned about the dangers of silica exposure or given adequate guidance or tools to protect themselves while working with artificial stone products. Manufacturers named in lawsuits have denied wrongdoing or declined public comment — and some are lobbying federal lawmakers for protection from lawsuits. For families of workers with silicosis, the financial and emotional toll can be overwhelming. For example, a lung transplant may cost more than $1 million, and younger workers may require multiple transplants over their lifetime.
As cases continue to emerge, health experts warn that without stronger protections and accountability, artificial stone silicosis will remain a serious health problem.
Seek justice with the help of our experienced silicosis attorneys. For more than 20 years, Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has fought to hold manufacturers and other responsible parties accountable for exposing workers to dangerous levels of respirable crystalline silica. We represent individuals and families affected by silicosis and other silica-related lung diseases, helping them pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and the lasting impact of occupational exposure. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with silicosis after working with engineered stone, natural stone, concrete, or other silica-containing materials, we can help.
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