A kitchen countertop with a bowl of apples and a stove.

By Chris Spiker From Daily Voice

Massachusetts has confirmed its first case of silicosis, an incurable lung disease tied to stone countertop work. 

State public health officials issued an urgent safety alert about silicosis on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The disease was diagnosed in a Hispanic man in his 40s who spent 14 years working for stone countertop fabrication and installation companies across the state.

Silicosis develops after someone breathes in crystalline silica dust, which is found in materials like granite and engineered stone. 

"Massachusetts employers in industries where workers are exposed to silica dust have a responsibility to protect their workforce, including from harmful airborne dust," said state public health commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "No worker should have to suffer from a chronic and insidious lung disease or possibly die because of a preventable exposure at work." 

Engineered stone, also called quartz or artificial stone, contains more than 90% silica compared to less than 45% in granite. Cutting, polishing, or grinding these materials creates dust that can scar the lungs over time.

The disease has a long delay between exposure and symptoms, with early signs including mucus, coughing, and shortness of breath. As it progresses, people can have trouble breathing, chest pain, fatigue, leg swelling, and bluish lips.

While this is the Bay State's first confirmed case, other states have silicosis reports.

"The confirmation of this case in Massachusetts is a tragic reminder that silicosis is not just a distant threat – it is here, and it is seriously impacting the health of workers in Massachusetts," said Emily Sparer-Fine, director of the state's occupational health surveillance program. "Beyond the critical role employers play, everyone involved in the supply chain – from consumers and designers to contractors – can help reduce the danger by opting for materials that contain less silica and pose fewer health hazards."

The state's public health department said that most US cases have been found in young, male, Hispanic or Latino workers. Construction and masonry workers may also face silica exposure when cutting or working with materials like stone, concrete, brick, or mortar.

Some measures can be taken to prevent silicosis, like wet cutting, proper dust collection systems, ventilation, medical monitoring programs, and written exposure control plans. Workers should also receive training in their preferred languages and be provided with respirators when needed.

OSHA updated national rules in 2016 to require ventilation and other protective steps to reduce workers' risk of developing silicosis