California may ban kitchen quartz countertops over incurable disease fears
California is considering a ban on kitchen quartz countertops due to health concerns linked to an incurable lung disease. The state's regulators have noted a significant increase in silicosis cases among workers who fabricate these countertops. Critics of the ban argue it could push non-compliant businesses underground, increasing risks for workers.
- ▪California's Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is moving towards prohibiting work on artificial stone due to health risks.
- ▪Silicosis cases among workers have surged from 52 in 2022 to 531 in 2026, attributed to rising demand for quartz countertops.
- ▪Critics of the proposed ban warn it may lead to increased risks as non-compliant shops could operate underground.
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Health California may ban kitchen quartz countertops over incurable disease fears By Titus Wu Published May 21, 2026, 8:42 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google California workplace safety regulators want to completely ban kitchen quartz countertops because they are linked to an incurable lung disease in the workers who make them. The state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to move towards prohibiting work on artificial stone to stop infection by the deadly kitchen dust, following Australia’s ban of work on the quartz material. 4 CalOSHA holds a meeting to consider a ban on all fabrication and installation tasks on engineered stone that contains more than 1% crystalline silica to prevent silicosis.
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