California Poised to Ban Quartz Countertops Over 668 Silicosis Cases

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 26

California is preparing to ban the production and installation of quartz countertops after public health authorities identified 668 silicosis cases tied to cutting the material.
Quartz itself is not dangerous in homes, but fabrication can release toxic silica dust; lawsuits from affected workers have helped drive scrutiny, including about 260 cases filed by one Long Beach law firm.
Contractors and retailers are already weighing alternatives as the state moves toward the restriction, even with industry pushback and questions about how a ban would be enforced.
The move would hit a fast-growing global engineered-stone market worth about $30 billion, underscoring how worker-safety concerns are reshaping a popular countertop business.