{"683317":{"#nid":"683317","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Scientists Pinpoint Hazards for Engineered Stone Fabrication Shop Workers ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EYou\u0027ve probably seen fabricated stone countertops on an HGTV remodeling show \u2014 and you might even have them in your own home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe durable, affordable, and highly customizable product debuted in Italy in the 1970s and continues to grow in popularity. Between 2010 and 2018, U.S. imports of engineered stone slabs\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/10482911231189503\u0022\u003E increased by 800%\u003C\/a\u003E. One\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.freedoniagroup.com\/industry-study\/global-engineered-stone-countertops\u0022\u003Ereport predicted\u003C\/a\u003E that global demand will increase 5.4% each year, to reach 97 million square meters by 2028.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESometimes referred to as manufactured stone or quartz (which is, confusingly, also the name of one of its main components), to the untrained eye, the material looks no different from natural stone. One of its biggest advantages is that it can be made to resemble marble, granite, or nearly any other stone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeneath the material\u2019s familiar smooth surface, however, lie safety risks for engineered stone workers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch conducted by a team of Georgia Tech scientists demonstrates that everyone in a fabrication shop is at risk, not just the workers cutting and fashioning the material.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe group included members of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESafety, Health, and Environmental Services\u003C\/a\u003E (SHES) program: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/jenny-houlroyd-cih-mpsh\/\u0022\u003EJenny Houlroyd\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/hilarie-warren-cih-mph\/\u0022\u003EHilarie Warren\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/brandon-j-philpot-mph\/\u0022\u003EBrandon J. Philpot\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/sean-castillo-mph\/\u0022\u003ESean Castillo\u003C\/a\u003E. Together with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholars.georgiasouthern.edu\/en\/persons\/jhy-charm-soo-2\u0022\u003EJhy-Charm Soo\u003C\/a\u003E of\u0026nbsp;Georgia Southern University, they recently published their findings in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/\u0022\u003EOxford Academic\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/annweh\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/annweh\/wxaf014\/8116008?utm_source=advanceaccess\u0026amp;utm_campaign=annweh\u0026amp;utm_medium=email#512191161\u0022\u003EThe study\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;divided engineered stone workers into four risk groups and charted their relative exposure to the material\u2019s chief hazard:\u0026nbsp;respirable crystalline silica.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA \u201cToxic Product\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEngineered stone differs notably from its natural counterpart, both in composition and in danger to worker health. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA stone slab cut from the ground, such as granite or marble,\u0026nbsp;comprises\u0026nbsp;several different minerals and typically has a concentration of 40% or less of mineral crystalline silica \u2014 usually quartz, which is the most abundant form of crystalline silica.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEngineered stone, however, can contain more than 90% silica. Slabs are produced when silica is crushed, combined with synthetic resins, and compressed using heat or pressure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring fabrication, these slabs are cut and shaped by powered hand tools. The resulting dust contains tiny particles of respirable crystalline silica. Once inhaled,\u0026nbsp;some of the particulate may stay in the lungs and cause an inflammatory response.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile crystalline silica is released from both natural and engineered slabs during fabrication, the engineered slabs\u2019 significantly higher percentage of silica poses a much greater risk to human health.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA growing body of research indicates that breathing engineered stone dust leads to lung inflammation and can cause acute silicosis, an untreatable lung disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI would classify engineered stone as a really toxic product,\u201d said Houlroyd, manager of occupational health services at SHES. \u201cWhen you have something that\u2019s high-risk, you have to prepare for systems to fail and have backup measures.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommitted to Safety\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver six years, the SHES research group collected air-sampling data, making 17 visits to 11 Georgia stone fabrication shops. The shops had all requested air-sampling services offered by SHES.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe companies agree that by working with us, they commit to correcting the hazards and reducing exposures, as much as is feasible,\u201d Houlroyd noted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause most kitchen and bathroom countertop fabrication shops are small employers, workers often complete a variety of tasks, resulting in a range of exposure factors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research team recommended that all manufactured stone fabrication workers\u0026nbsp;wear respirators, such as an N95 mask. For employees who are the most exposed, they recommended a respirator with a powered air-purifying element or supplied air.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut personal protective equipment (PPE) alone does not ensure safe conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMost of the workers in this industry are relying on respirators as their primary source of protection, and they need a lot more to protect them,\u201d explained Houlroyd. \u201cPPE is the last line of defense, and safety needs to be addressed from all angles.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPart of that multifaceted strategy includes repeated monitoring of air quality and equipment. It\u2019s also crucial for employers to make sure that exposure risks are understood by all workers \u2014 not just employees, but also contract and day laborers, as well as those working for cash.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore Than Just a Job\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs members of SHES, the Georgia Tech research team members are first and foremost health and safety consultants, with expertise spanning industrial hygiene, environmental compliance, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Houlroyd, worker safety is not just a professional calling; it\u2019s also a personal mission.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy dad got sick with brain cancer from exposure to contaminants on the job, and he died four years ago,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThough he didn\u2019t work in the manufactured stone industry, his story is representative of many people who go to work each day to feed their family, are not aware of workplace hazards, and then find themselves sick.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe public can play a part in worker safety, too.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cConsumers have a choice and can educate themselves about what type of countertop materials they choose to have installed \u2014 like how we look at food labels for nutritional information,\u201d said Warren, who oversees the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe should be aware of the risk to workers, as well as how the installation process in our homes should be properly managed to prevent dust contamination,\u201d she added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Zero-Risk Solution\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024, Australia eliminated the risks associated with engineered stone fabrication. Despite having enacted stronger regulations in 2019, the country continued to see a rise in silicosis cases resulting from exposure to respirable crystalline silica.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAustralia\u2019s solution?\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1183\/13993003.00138-2024\u0022\u003EEnacting a ban\u003C\/a\u003E on the import and fabrication of the material until its safe manufacture can be demonstrated.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn their report, the Georgia Tech group recommends that the U.S. do the same. As Houlroyd put it, \u201cI would love to see our country find a safer substitution and take this dangerous product off the market.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E____________________\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETitle:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cRespirable dust and respirable crystalline silica exposures among workers at stone countertop fabrication shops in Georgia from 2017 through 2023\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConflict of interest\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u0026nbsp;Jenny Houlroyd has served as an expert witness in silicosis legal cases unrelated to this research. All other authors declare no conflict of interest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding\u003C\/strong\u003E: The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as part of the OSHA 21(d) Consultation Program grant.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDOI\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/annweh\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/annweh\/wxaf014\/8116008?utm_source=advanceaccess\u0026amp;utm_campaign=annweh\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/academic.oup.com\/annweh\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/annweh\/wxaf014\/8116008?utm_source=advanceaccess\u0026amp;utm_campaign=annweh\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAustralia enacted a ban on the import and fabrication of manufactured stone slabs because of health hazard concerns. Researchers from Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern University recommend the U.S. do the same.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Engineered stone has been in use for homes since the 1970s but creates serious health hazards for workers who produce them."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2025-07-28 14:17:01","changed_gmt":"2025-07-30 14:28:40","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677502":{"id":"677502","type":"image","title":"Sanding Photo - Javier Padilla","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EJavier Padilla, a sander with a metro Atlanta stone fabrication company, works on smoothing out a slab. (Photo: Mixed Bag Media)\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1753723684","gmt_created":"2025-07-28 17:28:04","changed":"1753724449","gmt_changed":"2025-07-28 17:40:49","alt":"Man sanding a slab of fabricated stone.","file":{"fid":"261407","name":"sanding-6.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/sanding-6.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/sanding-6.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":136279,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/28\/sanding-6.jpg?itok=1bZuo-cJ"}},"677506":{"id":"677506","type":"image","title":"Saw with Water","body":"\u003Cp\u003EOn average, fabrication stone plants use about 10,000 to 15,000 gallons of water per day. This saw is cutting though a slab of manufactured stone as water runs to keep the machinery from overheating, mitigate dust particulates, and polish the stone. (Photo: Mixed Bag Media)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753725472","gmt_created":"2025-07-28 17:57:52","changed":"1753726882","gmt_changed":"2025-07-28 18:21:22","alt":"saw machine cutting fabricated stone under running water.","file":{"fid":"261410","name":"saw-with-water.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/saw-with-water.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/saw-with-water.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":326823,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/28\/saw-with-water.jpg?itok=DtrTOQjQ"}},"677503":{"id":"677503","type":"image","title":"Resipirator Photo","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMasks such as this respirator are an important tool for workers in stone fabrication plants. To prevent silica dust and other particulates from damaging their components, experts say respirators should be stored in clear, plastic bags or containers when not in use. (Photo: Mixed Bag Media)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753724474","gmt_created":"2025-07-28 17:41:14","changed":"1753725381","gmt_changed":"2025-07-28 17:56:21","alt":"Respirator mask in a factory","file":{"fid":"261408","name":"respirator3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/respirator3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/respirator3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":63134,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/28\/respirator3.jpg?itok=hcHY-KM4"}}},"media_ids":["677502","677506","677503"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194690","name":"engineered stone"},{"id":"194691","name":"silicosis"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"194692","name":"worker safety"},{"id":"194693","name":"Georgia Southern University"},{"id":"188875","name":"Safety Health and Environmental Services"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u003Cbr\u003Eeve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["eve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}