Silicosis: Causes, Symptoms and Engineered Stone Countertop Risks

Silicosis is an incurable, progressive lung disease. It is caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, leading to scar build-up in the lungs. Silica occurs naturally in plants, rocks, soils and water, and it’s commonly used in engineered stone products. Many people are exposed to it in jobs such as construction, sandblasting, pottery and stonework.

Once inhaled, silica can harm the tiny air sacs in the lungs. This damage adds up over time, so symptoms often don’t appear right away.

Silicosis has no cure and is irreversible, but treatment can help manage symptoms. However, if it’s severe enough, it can seriously impact daily activities or be fatal.

Silicosis develops when inhaled silica particles lodge in lung tissue, triggering chronic inflammation, scarring and nodule formation. These symptoms can make it difficult to breathe.

Engineered stone (quartz) can increase the risk of silicosis among workers who handle it. A 2023 study in JAMA Internal Medicine examined cases among California countertop workers. Many people in the study had severe silicosis, and a few died.

Occupational Exposure Sources

Most people are exposed to silica dust in jobs like construction, mining, quarrying and sandblasting. About 2.3 million workers are exposed to silica each year. Of them, around 2 million people work in construction.

Because of better safety regulations, cases of silicosis have decreased overall. However, new cases continue to be reported among engineered stoneworkers, especially those who work with quartz countertops. Dry-cutting, grinding and polishing these products can release large amounts of silica dust into the air, increasing workers’ risk of silicosis.

The Silica Concentration Problem

Lawsuits allege that manufacturers failed to adequately warn workers that engineered stone has a higher silica content and a greater risk of silicosis than natural stone. For example, a 2023 JAMA Internal Medicine study states engineered stone is made of about 90% silica, compared to about 3% to 30% in natural granite and stone products.

Lawyers say that protective gear might not be enough to guard workers from toxic levels of silica exposure. They also allege manufacturers could have made a safer product, but chose not to.

Typically, people who work around silica dust are at the highest risk of developing silicosis.

Over the past few years, a large number of silicosis cases have come from workers who cut, grind, fabricate or polish engineered stone used to make countertops for kitchens and bathrooms. These workers often develop the disease quickly.

Silicosis commonly affects men aged 20 to 40 years, and symptoms can appear in two to 10 years.

Silicosis symptoms and warning signs include shortness of breath, chronic cough, tiredness, chest tightness and back pain.

Early vs. Advanced Symptoms

Early on, people might not notice symptoms. They may mistake them for something else, like a common cold. Silicosis starts with mild breathlessness during exercise or a dry cough. As it advances, symptoms may include severe breathlessness, chronic cough and respiratory failure that may require a lung transplant.

People with advanced disease may find simple activities such as walking or climbing stairs difficult. They may become confined to their bed or home.

When To See a Doctor

People who work in jobs that expose them to silica dust should get regular checkups to monitor for symptoms. You should see a doctor right away if you develop a cough, breathing problems, fatigue, chest pain, unexplained weight loss or an inexplicable low-grade fever.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with silicosis, make sure to keep all your doctor’s appointments.

Doctors typically use lung imaging tests to diagnose silicosis. If you suspect you have silicosis, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider and share your work history. Symptoms can appear many years after exposure.

How Silicosis Is Diagnosed

Doctors will use breathing and imaging tests to diagnose silicosis. Imaging tests include a chest X-ray and high-resolution CT scans.

In general, CT scans provide a more detailed picture than X-rays and may help diagnose silicosis at earlier stages. Sometimes, a doctor may perform a biopsy instead. They will take a small sample of lung tissue to diagnose the disease.

Silicosis can be difficult to diagnose because it can resemble another disease called pulmonary tuberculosis. Because of this, it’s important to tell your doctor about the jobs you have had and any exposures you have experienced.

Silicosis Life Expectancy

Studies have shown that someone can live with silicosis for about seven to 27 years from the time of diagnosis. This depends on the stage of the disease and a person’s overall health.

Previous survival times in a 2006 study for silicosis stages I, II and III were 21.5, 15.8 and 6.8 years, respectively. These were measured from the year of diagnosis to death.

A 2025 study in Frontiers in Public Health reports slightly better survival rates, with stage I, II and III rates of 27, 20 and 11 years, respectively.

Lung scarring from silicosis can’t be reversed, so treatments usually focus on improving symptoms. For example, inhalers may improve shortness of breath and coughing. Steroids and other drugs may slow inflammation and prevent further scarring.

Pulmonary rehabilitation, breathing exercises and supplemental oxygen may also help people breathe better. Some patients with advanced silicosis may benefit from a lung transplant.

Studies have linked engineered stone products to silicosis due to their high silica content and greater risk of workplace exposure. According to a 2024 study in the International Journal for Research and Public Health, silicosis in people exposed to engineered stone dust can be more severe and develop more quickly.

Recent lawsuits have been filed by engineered stoneworkers against manufacturers. They claim manufacturers failed to warn them about the health risks.

Internationally, a businessman admitted in a Spanish court that he covered up the dangers of Cosentino’s Silestone quartz. This product allegedly led to silicosis in nearly 1,900 workers.

U.S. regulations for silicosis risk include exposure limits set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Individual states have also taken action to prevent silicosis outbreaks among workers.

Additionally, Australia prohibited the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs in July 2024. It also banned the import of engineered stone products, starting in January 2025.

Workers who developed silicosis or other silica exposure-related diseases have been filing lawsuits against engineered stone manufacturers. Currently, these lawsuits are being filed in state courts across the country as individual injury claims. There is no silicosis class action.

If you were exposed to silica dust while working in stone fabrication, sandblasting, construction, mining or industrial work and were diagnosed with a related lung disease, you may qualify to file a silicosis lawsuit. See our silica lawsuit page for full eligibility criteria and deadlines.