Do-it-yourselfers are being warned not to install their own stone countertops at home amid the rise of a deadly disease.
In recent years, engineered stone countertops have become increasingly popular, with imports of quartz surfaces to the U.S. increasing by 800 percent between 2010 and 2018.
But the dust released when the stone is cut and inhaled can cause irreversible scarring of the lungs, leaving people with difficulty breathing and a painful cough.
Known as silicosis or “black lung,” it is effectively a death sentence unless the person undergoes lung transplants, which only buys them a few years.
If people are going to install their own quartz countertops at home, Afif El-Hasan, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association, advises using he Appropriate safety equipment to prevent illness.
he said KSL NewsRadio: ‘Take it seriously (working on your own home), in the same way that a construction worker who comes to your house and works on it would want to take his lung health seriously.’
Illinois-based stone distributor and specialist Granite Selection says the best way to cut quartz countertops is to use a diamond-tipped circular saw.
As for safety equipment, experts recommend wearing a tight-fitting N95 mask designed for construction.
DIYers are being warned about the dangers of cutting and installing their own slippery stone countertops at home amid potentially fatal health effects.
Silicosis appears on a CT scan as small white nodules scattered throughout the lungs. Scan courtesy of radiopaedia.org
The CDC says the respirator filters out at least 95 percent of airborne particles “but is not resistant to oil-based particles.”
They add: “Protective glasses are also essential to carry out this task, as fine dust can easily become airborne.
“Since cutting stones also produces extremely strong vibrations, you’ll want to wear earplugs to protect your ears.”
The growing popularity of artificial quartz has led to thousands of cases of “black lung” among construction workers.
Each year, more than 300 American workers die from silicosis and thousands more are diagnosed with this lung disease.
An estimated 100,000 stone makers in the U.S. are also at risk of contracting silicosis due to dust exposure.
However, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) notes that the condition “is frequently misdiagnosed, so the actual numbers may be significantly higher.”
Until recent decades, silicosis traditionally affected older men who worked in industries such as mining and tunneling.
Composed of 90 percent ground quartz and 10 percent resins and pigments, engineered quartz countertops gained popularity because the material is less expensive than natural stone.
But it still has that shiny finish and durability that has become a must-have for modern kitchens.
The material debuted in the 1960s and became popular in the 90s.
However, artificial stone materials can contain substantially more crystalline silica, and this silica dust is known as the “next asbestos.”
El-Hasan says that because of this mix of toxic ingredients, it’s essential for DIYers to find out what chemicals they’ll be working with before tackling projects.
Once installed, your kitchen and bathroom quartz countertops pose no health risks.
Gustavo Reyes González worked for years in stone manufacturing workshops, where he constantly breathed invisible silica dust. It penetrated his lungs and caused a buildup of scar tissue there, permanently damaging his lungs. Since then he has had two transplants.
Above is Marek Marzec from the UK, who was diagnosed with silicosis at the age of 48. He had spent a decade working with quartz countertops while working as a stonemason.
‘Probably zero risk for homeowners with quartz countertops. Just dust exposure,” said Dr. David Center of Boston University.
Faced with health dangers from quartz dust, more and more victims, especially construction workers, are suing stone manufacturers for failing to protect them.
One of those workers is 34-year-old Gustavo Reyes González of California, who received a double lung transplant after moving to the United States from Mexico and installing kitchens and bathrooms for wealthy families throughout Orange County.
He won at least $8 million or possibly more, depending on what a judge decides within the next month, against companies that manufacture and distribute artificial stone after the jury agreed they were at least partially responsible for the illness that has left him in pain. and almost death.
His attorney James Nevin told DailyMail.com that he currently represents about 300 workers in California who have suffered painful lung injuries as a result of their home improvement jobs.
Many of the victims are between 30 and 40 years old and will die within about ten years.
Nevin told DailyMail.com: “We are finding a prevalence rate of 92 per cent; most manufacturing workers will get silicosis… this is just the tip of the iceberg.”