This article is derived from the original translation
by British Medical Journal
After treating the first eight cases of artificial stones, a team of doctors in Thorax magazine said it may be time to ban artificial stones-a favorite on British kitchen countertops-to prevent incurable lung disease caused by their manufacture and installation. Artificial stone silicosis is reported in the UK.
They pointed out that silicosis is caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust and that millions of people around the world are at risk of developing silicosis due to their work in mining, quarrying, stone cutting and construction.
They explained that artificial stone (also known as engineered stone or recycled stone or quartz), made of gravel bonded together with resin and pigments, has rapidly become popular over the past 20 years, especially on kitchen countertops.
It has aesthetic appeal. They added that because there are no natural defects, it is easier to use and is more resistant to damage than natural stone.
But its increasing popularity has been accompanied by the emergence of a serious and rapidly advancing form of silicosis (artificial stone silicosis), mainly due to its higher silica content than marble (3%) and granite (30%)(more than 90%). ), as well as fine dust generated during cutting.
The author explains that when preparing to install worktops, they are usually dry-cut and polished with an angle grinder or other manual tool, rather than using water to suppress the generation of dust, thereby further increasing the amount of fine dust.
Since 2010, cases of artificial stone silicosis have been reported in Israel, Spain, Italy, the United States, China, Australia and Belgium. Although artificial stones were used for a similar period in the UK, cases were not reported until mid-2023, when eight men were referred to an occupational pulmonary specialist clinic.
Their average age was 34 years, but the age range at diagnosis ranged from 27 to 56 years. Six were born outside the UK and seven smoked or had smoked.
Their average cumulative exposure to stone dust was 12.5 years, but the range ranged from 4 to 40 years. Four of them have been exposed to stone dust for four to eight years, and it is estimated that the materials they use are 50 to 100 percent artificial stone, some of which also include granite, marble and other “natural” stones.
Two of them were evaluated for lung transplants; three were evaluated for autoimmune disease. Both were treated for opportunistic lung infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
All of these people work in small companies with fewer than 10 employees. Although none of them are engaged in countertops manufacturing or installation, they all carry out a finishing process, especially cutting and polishing countertops before installation.
They all reported that this was done without continuous water suppression and without respiratory protection they deemed appropriate. Even if the workshop had ventilation, these people said the system was not regularly maintained or cleaned. None of them knew that there was active air dust monitoring in the workplace.
The three continued to use artificial stones despite medical advice and later reported that exposure to visible dust was reduced after the introduction of powered respirators and water suppression devices. Two people no longer worked; continued to work but no longer came into contact with dust; one person died; one of them disappeared due to further inspection.
“The onset of disease may be related to exposure levels, which suggests that at least for some cases in the UK… levels are very high, meaning employers have failed to control dust exposure and comply with health and safety regulations,” the authors noted.。
“The artificial stone market is dominated by small companies, and the regulation of these companies has proven difficult to implement. In addition, at least some countertop manufacturers may not be able to provide sufficient technical information related to potential risks. Even if contact is stopped, disease will occur. More than 50% of cases progress within 4 years [on average], so preventing the disease is crucial,”they emphasized.
They note that while the number of workers exposed to silicon dust is unclear, global experience suggests that cases may increase significantly in the next few years.
They said current UK guidelines recommend monitoring workers in the industry after 15 years, but this is likely to miss cases and fail to take into account the intensity of exposure, not just the length of exposure.
“The UK needs to work together to prevent epidemics in other countries. We provide examples of employers failing to take responsibility for workplace exposure control. National guidelines are urgently needed and efforts are being made to list what they insist on early detection of high-risk groups and early detection of cases. “Consideration must be given to introducing legal requirements to report cases of artificial stone silicosis, implementing health and safety regulations focusing on small companies, and a UK ban on artificial stone (introduced in Australia in 2024).”
As the international community grows concerned about the health effects of crystalline silica dust, the UK is currently reviewing exposure limits for crystalline silica dust.
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Original text:https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-kitchen-worktop-favorite-ward-incurable.html
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