Concerns are rising over artificial stone used in UK kitchen worktops after several cases of silicosis, an incurable lung condition, were reported. With high silica levels and poor regulatory compliance, experts are advocating for more stringent safety measures and considering a ban. Artificial stone, used predominantly for kitchen worktops in the UK, is under scrutiny for causing silicosis, an incurable lung disease.
Recent cases highlight its danger, particularly due to high silica content and inadequate safety measures during its cutting and polishing. Despite known risks, regulation remains lax, especially in small companies, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and possibly a ban similar to Australia’s forthcoming 2024 prohibition. It may now be time to ban artificial stone—a firm favorite for kitchen counters in the UK— to ward off the incurable lung disease caused by its manufacturing and fitting, say a team of doctors in the journal Thorax after treating the first 8 cases of artificial stone silicosis reported in the UK.
Silicosis is caused by breathing in crystalline silica dust, and millions of people around the world are at risk of developing it as a result of their jobs in mining, quarrying, stone-cutting, and construction, they note. The Popularity and Dangers of Engineered Stone Made from crushed rocks bound together with resins and pigments, artificial stone, also known as engineered or reconstituted stone, or ‘quartz’, has surged in popularity ov.