California is considering a ban on the production and installation of quartz countertops amid growing concerns over silicosis, a potentially fatal lung disease linked to inhaling crystalline silica dust released during quartz cutting. The anticipated move follows increasing reports of silicosis cases among workers in the state’s countertop fabrication industry.
Since 2020, legal action in California has targeted companies tied to quartz countertop fabrication, with attorney Raphael Metzger representing more than 260 workers affected by silicosis. California public health authorities have identified 668 cases of the disease related to quartz cutting, a process that generates fine silica dust harmful when inhaled. The state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is scheduled to review the proposed ban in November.
Quartz countertops, often marketed as “natural stone,” are in fact engineered products made by combining pulverized quartz with resins and pigments into slabs. The dust generated when cutting these slabs contains respirable crystalline silica, which accumulates in the lungs and causes scarring and silicosis. This condition has not been associated with quartzite, a natural stone also containing silica, since it is not subjected to the dust-generating fabrication processes used for engineered stone.
The engineered stone market, valued globally at around $30 billion, has seen quartz gain popularity since the 1990s as a durable, low-maintenance alternative to granite and marble. Major manufacturers such as Caesarstone, Cosentino, and Cambria supply a wide variety of quartz products to the market, including through large retail outlets.
California health officials have expressed concern over limited capacity to regulate and inspect numerous small fabrication shops across the state, many of which operate informally. The proposed ban would apply not only to countertops but to other surfaces made from engineered stone, including baths, fireplaces, and flooring, and would cover any material removal during installation beyond minor adjustments.
The industry response has been mixed. The International Surface Fabricators Association, representing manufacturers and fabricators, opposes the ban and has recommended a licensing system as an alternative to outright prohibition. Some fabricators, such as California Surfaces in Santa Fe Springs, have voluntarily ceased working with quartz, switching to materials with lower silica content. The company’s president, Peter Dominguez, cited concerns for employee health and noted that while alternatives perform similarly, customer adoption remains challenging due to entrenched preferences and project specifications.
Internationally, regulatory actions reflect similar concerns. Australia banned engineered stone products containing more than 1 percent crystalline silica in 2024, and some manufacturers have introduced recycled and low-silica options. Retailers like IKEA have also shifted toward alternative composite materials in their U.S. offerings.
As California moves toward formalizing restrictions on quartz countertop fabrication, the decision could have significant industry implications, given the state’s substantial market size and its influence on regulatory trends in other states.