Overview
- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health verified the state's first silicosis case tied to stone countertop fabrication and urged employers to strengthen protections.
- The patient, a Hispanic man in his 40s, worked 14 years in fabrication and installation, reported very dusty conditions with inconsistent wet cutting and inadequate masks, and developed symptoms after roughly a decade on the job.
- The state alert calls for dust‑control methods, appropriate respirators, and medical surveillance, and reminds providers that silicosis is a reportable condition in Massachusetts.
- Engineered stone can contain up to about 95% crystalline silica, and cutting or polishing it releases fine particles that cause an incurable, sometimes fatal lung disease that in severe cases can require a transplant.
- Nationwide reporting and research describe growing cases among predominantly immigrant workers; lawsuits alleging manufacturers failed to warn include a $52 million Los Angeles verdict in 2024 that is under appeal.