California Moves to Ban Quartz Countertops

California’s workplace safety regulators are urging a ban on artificial stone containing more than 1% silica due to health risks for workers. The move follows a surge in silicosis cases, a progressive and incurable lung disease, mirroring an “epidemic” affecting countries like Spain, which recorded 600 new cases last year. California could become the first US state to prohibit this material—commonly used in kitchen countertops but increasingly found in walls—after Australia enacted a similar ban in 2023.

The state has confirmed at least 562 silicosis cases linked to artificial stone, with 218 diagnosed last year. Roughly 98% of those affected are Latino workers in stone fabrication shops. Officials determined the material is “intrinsically hazardous” and that regulating its handling won’t eliminate risks.

A committee will now explore phasing out high-silica quartz while allowing businesses to deplete existing stock and find alternatives. While some companies like Cosentino are already producing low-silica options, research into the long-term health effects of these newer materials is ongoing. The work to understand and mitigate these risks continues, even as California begins this regulatory process.