California public health officials have identified 592 cases of silicosis among workers who fabricate engineered stone countertops from January 2019 through June 2026, according to a new report published August 12, 2026. Of those workers, 65 underwent lung transplants and 31 died.

The cases involve primarily young Latino men exposed to high levels of respirable crystalline silica dust while cutting, grinding, and polishing artificial quartz slabs. Silicosis is an incurable, progressive lung disease. Officials and researchers say the numbers are rising rapidly and that the true burden is likely higher because surveillance relies largely on passive reporting.

California Reports Nearly 600 Cases of Silicosis in Countertop Workers

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) began tracking engineered-stone silicosis after identifying the first known case in a countertop fabrication worker in January 2019. That worker was diagnosed at age 32 and died of respiratory failure at 38. Workplace investigation and screening at the same shop uncovered additional cases.

CDPH expanded surveillance using hospital discharge data, electronic case reporting, clinician reports, and other sources. Cases were confirmed using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health definition plus a history of countertop fabrication work.

As of June 2026 the total stood at 592 confirmed cases. Nearly all patients (99.8%) were male and 98% were Latino. The median age at diagnosis was 46; the median age at death was 52. Median occupational silica dust exposure among those with available data was 22 years.

Los Angeles County accounts for roughly half of the cases. The San Fernando Valley is a major concentration of fabrication shops. Cases have increased sharply: far fewer were recorded from 2019–2022 than in the subsequent period through mid-2026.

Silicosis Epidemic Among California Engineered-Stone Fabricators Reaches 592 Cases

• Silicosis is caused by inhaling microscopic crystalline silica particles that scar lung tissue. Engineered stone typically contains more than 90% crystalline silica, far higher than many natural stones.
• Disease progression among these workers is faster and more severe than traditional silicosis seen in mining or construction. Many patients present with advanced disease, autoimmune conditions, or tuberculosis co-infection.
• 138 workers (23%) were referred for lung transplantation; 65 (11%) received transplants. Even after transplant the disease can continue to progress.
• California has more than 1,300 countertop fabrication operations and several thousand workers in the industry. Nationwide, estimates suggest more than 100,000 workers may have been exposed.
• Australia banned the manufacture, import, and fabrication of engineered stone containing more than 1% crystalline silica in 2024. California regulators are considering similar restrictions.

Why It Matters

Engineered stone (often marketed as quartz) became the dominant countertop material in the United States over the past two decades. The workers most affected are largely immigrant Latino men, many in small shops clustered in Southern California. The disease disables people in their 40s and 50s, leads to costly transplants frequently covered by public programs such as Medi-Cal, and has already caused dozens of deaths.

Public health experts note that silicosis is entirely preventable with effective dust controls. Yet Cal/OSHA inspections have found high rates of violations at fabrication shops, and resource constraints limit the number of sites that can be inspected.

592 California Stonecutters Diagnosed With Incurable Lung Disease

CDPH surveillance prompted an emergency temporary silica standard from the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board in 2023 that was made permanent in early 2025. Senate Bill 20, signed in 2025, strengthened training, reporting, and enforcement requirements and designated silicosis a mandatory reportable disease in California.

In May 2026 the Standards Board granted a petition from the Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association seeking to prohibit fabrication and installation of engineered stone containing more than 1% crystalline silica. Cal/OSHA was directed to begin emergency rulemaking. Draft language is being prepared for stakeholder review.

David Michaels, a co-author of the Public Health Alerts report, former OSHA assistant secretary, and professor at George Washington University, said the product “cannot be manufactured safely and economically” and is damaging the lungs of hundreds of workers in California and likely thousands nationwide.

What Happens Next?

Cal/OSHA is developing emergency regulations that could restrict or prohibit high-silica engineered stone fabrication in California. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to comment before any final action. CDPH continues surveillance and clinician outreach. Active screening programs, similar to those conducted in parts of Australia, could identify additional cases among current and former workers.

Employers remain required to use wet methods, local exhaust ventilation, and appropriate respirators when working with silica-containing materials. Clinicians are urged to ask patients about countertop work and report suspected silicosis cases.

New Report: Hundreds of California Countertop Workers Ill With Silicosis

Silicosis has no cure. Early detection through screening can allow workers to leave high-exposure jobs and may slow progression, but it does not reverse existing damage. Workers who cut or polish stone countertops—especially engineered quartz—should use water suppression, proper ventilation, and respirators. Anyone with a history of this work who develops cough, shortness of breath, or fatigue should seek medical evaluation that includes occupational history, imaging, and lung function testing.

Homeowners and contractors who hire fabricators can ask shops about dust-control practices. Lower-silica or alternative materials are increasingly available.

Conclusion

As of June 2026, California had confirmed 592 cases of silicosis among engineered-stone countertop workers, with 65 lung transplants and 31 deaths. The epidemic is concentrated among young Latino men in Southern California fabrication shops. Regulatory steps have strengthened workplace rules, and California is now advancing toward potential restrictions on high-silica engineered stone. The disease remains preventable, but exposures continue and the full number of affected workers is believed to be higher than currently reported.

Fact-Check Table