More and more countertop workers, predominantly Latino men, are experiencing an irreversible lung disease caused by inhaling hazardous dust while cutting and grinding certain stone materials. California is set to be the first state to implement special measures to protect these workers who fabricate kitchen and bathroom countertops using quartz, a popular artificial stone. Silicosis, the disease in question, is caused by silica dust that becomes airborne during the cutting process. Engineered stone, such as quartz, contains a higher amount of silica compared to natural stone like granite, making it riskier for workers. In California alone, there have been 77 reported cases of affected workers, some of whom have died or required lung transplants. Dr. Sheiphali Gandhi, a pulmonologist at the University of California, San Francisco, warns that the situation is worsening, with increasingly severe cases affecting young workers. Many of the affected individuals are Spanish-speaking Latino men who came to the United States from Mexico, El Salvador, or other Central American countries. A recent report published in JAMA Internal Medicine highlights numerous cases of silicosis among countertop workers in California, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue. The US federal government has limits on workers’ exposure to airborne silica, and there are techniques to control dust levels, such as wet cutting and proper ventilation. However, an examination of California’s countertop industry revealed that around 72% of fabrication shops in the state were likely not in compliance with existing silica standards, putting hundreds of workers at risk of developing silicosis. Consequently, California’s Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board has expedited the development of new regulations to protect countertop workers from inhaling dust while working with high-silica materials. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is also considering banning this type of countertop material. Experts in occupational health warn that this problem is not confined to California alone, as similar cases have been found in Texas, Colorado, Washington, and Florida. The severity of the issue may be even greater than reported due to underdiagnosis, particularly among undocumented and uninsured workers who may hesitate to seek medical care. It is estimated that around 100,000 people work in this industry nationwide, and a study on employees of an engineered stone countertop fabrication facility found that 12% had silicosis. David Goldsmith, an occupational and environmental epidemiologist at George Washington University, states that the new cases reported in California are serious but likely underestimate the extent of the problem in the state and the entire country.
Safety Measures in California Prompted by Lung Damage in Countertop Makers: Shots
Denial of responsibility! Swift Telecast is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials, please contact us by email – swifttelecast.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.