Your Kitchen Countertop Could Be Making Workers Sick | KQED

"Engineered stone, or quartz, is a man-made material made with high concentrations of silica that is commonly used to make kitchen countertops in the U.S. And it's making the workers who cut this material sick."

"Even though California has safety rules in place to reduce the risk to workers, some say it's time to ban the use of engineered stone altogether."

Engineered stone, a man-made material composed of high concentrations of silica, is widely used for kitchen countertops in the United States. Workers who cut and handle this material experience significant health problems from silica dust exposure. California has implemented safety rules designed to protect workers from these hazards. However, advocates argue these regulations are insufficient and propose banning engineered stone entirely to eliminate occupational health risks at their source.

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