Scientists have urged the UK government to reconsider a ban on artificial stone worktops after a rise in cases of silicosis in workers after a short period of exposure
A report in the medical journal Thorax has led to renewed calls for a ban on artificial stone countertops, after a rise in UK cases of silicosis.
Artificial stone- also known as engineered stone, reconstituted stone or ‘quartz’- has risen in popularity in kitchen countertops in recent years, but has been accompanied by a rise in cases of silicosis.
Stonecutters and labourers working with artificial stone risk inhaling silica dust, which can cause lung inflammation and scarring. There is no known cure for the condition and some have had to undergo lung transplants.
A lack of regulation risks some of construction’s most vulnerable labourers
Dr Johanna Feary led the study on the first eight cases of silicosis in the UK and authored the paper. She reported that all cases were male, ranging in age from 27 to 56. Median stone dust exposure was over 12.5 years, but in half of these cases occurred within 4-8 years of exposure.
All of the men in the study had worked with artificial stone in unsafe conditions, such as dry cutting rather than wet cutting, which reduces the airborne dust released in the stonecutting process.
Six of the eight men in the study were migrant workers and 88% were smokers. All were working for companies employing ten staff or fewer and were not explicitly stonemasons, but had taken part in ‘finishing’ processes such as cutting or polishing the artificial stone as part of its installation. They all reported a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) or dust monitoring processes in their workplaces.
After developing silicosis, one man is now deceased and two have been referred for lung transplants.
“The emergence of these cases of artificial stone silicosis in the UK is of real concern,” Dr Feary commented.
“It is affecting young men many of whom have only worked for a few years with this material. There is no good treatment and the implications of a diagnosis can be devastating. The UK needs to learn from the experience in other countries and to act quickly to minimise the number of deaths in the months and years to come.”
The HSE has maintained its position on a ban on artificial stone worktops
Australia was the first country to ban the use of artificial stone, which came into effect in July of this year. A rise in silicosis cases has also been reported in Israel, Spain, Italy, the USA, China and Belgium, leading to some political discussion about similar bans.
Kitchen company Herringbone was the first in the UK to implement a ban on the sale of high-silica quartz worktops, reasoning that the risks of working with artificial stone “are not necessary when there are alternatives on the market.”
At this time, HSE appears not to be pursuing a ban, with a spokesperson saying:“Our sympathies are with those who have lost loved ones to any work-related disease.
“Great Britain has a robust and well-established regulatory framework in place to protect workers from the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances.
“We continue to work with industry to raise awareness of managing the risks of exposure to respirable crystalline silica and we are considering options for future interventions to ensure workers are protected.”
