The industry is being exposed.
New research highlights a significant health risk for workers involved in the production of engineered stone countertops: lung disease caused by exposure to silica dust. A study presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting in Chicago revealed that inhaling dust from countertop manufacturing can lead to silicosis, a condition that damages the lungs and can eventually cause respiratory failure.
Dr. Sundus Lateef, the lead author of the study, emphasized the lack of awareness and proper screening for workers in the engineered stone industry. “There is a critical lack of recognition of exposure and screening for workers in the engineered stone manufacturing industry,” Lateef said, stressing the need for more proactive measures. Silicosis is commonly associated with workers in industries such as mining or construction, but the study reveals it is also affecting workers in countertop fabrication.
The research, which focused on Hispanic male workers, found that 55 individuals from the countertop manufacturing industry showed signs of silicosis on their lung CT scans. Among the 21 workers with advanced symptoms, the average age was 43, and they had been working in the industry for 18 years. However, only four of these cases were detected when the workers first sought medical attention, and radiologists recognized the disease in just a third of the cases. This highlights the challenge in diagnosing silicosis, especially in regions where the disease is not commonly seen, and it often presents with unusual features.
Dr. Lateef pointed out that the lack of recognition and delayed diagnoses could hinder timely treatment for these workers. The study calls for greater awareness and screening for silicosis, particularly among Spanish-speaking immigrant workers who are particularly vulnerable. Lateef and her colleagues are working on the California Artificial Stone and Silicosis (CASS) Project, which aims to improve respiratory health and raise awareness among workers in the state’s countertop fabrication industry.
These findings were presented at a medical conference and should be considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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