Article by Jessica Roy Examines the Silicosis Crisis Affecting California Countertop Fabrication Workers
NOVATO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brayton Purcell LLP is calling attention to a recent San Francisco Chronicle article by Jessica Roy examining California’s plan to prohibit the fabrication and installation of artificial stone containing more than 1% crystalline silica.
Published on October 8, 2026, the article, “Why California Could Ban a Popular Feature for High-End Kitchen Remodels,” discusses the artificial stone silicosis crisis among California countertop fabrication workers. It also addresses why state regulators determined that the material cannot be fabricated safely within the state’s countertop industry.
The article includes comments from James Nevin, a partner at Brayton Purcell LLP. The firm represents approximately 600 artificial stone countertop fabrication workers who developed silicosis after working in California’s artificial stone fabrication industry, as well as additional countertop fabrication workers across the United States.
Artificial Stone Fabrication Generates Hazardous Dust
Artificial stone, also referred to as engineered stone or manufactured stone, is commonly used for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Consumers often select it because it can resemble marble and other natural materials.
However, artificial stone contains at least 90% crystalline silica. The remaining approximate 10% consists of resins, dyes, heavy metals, and other toxins that release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, when fabricated.
Cutting, grinding, polishing, and shaping artificial stone can release substantial amounts of respirable crystalline silica dust containing nano-sized, high-surface area silica particles. These particles are inhaled deep into the lungs, where they cause accelerated artificial stone silicosis.
Artificial stone silicosis is an incurable and fatal lung disease. Silica particles trapped in lung tissue cause inflammation and permanent scarring. As the disease progresses, breathing becomes increasingly difficult, and 24/7 oxygen support is necessary. People with advanced silicosis require lung transplants.
California Data Shows a Growing Public Health Crisis
According to figures cited in the San Francisco Chronicle article, California has confirmed 662 cases of artificial stone silicosis since surveillance began in 2019. The reported cases include 35 deaths and 75 lung transplants.
The median age at diagnosis is 46, while the median age at death is 52.
The crisis has disproportionately affected Latino workers. California data indicate that 98% of confirmed artificial stone silicosis cases have occurred among Latinos, nearly all of whom are men.
James Nevin Addresses the Human Cost of Artificial Stone
The San Francisco Chronicle article gives a voice to workers and families already living with the consequences of artificial stone fabrication.
According to Nevin, California reached the same conclusion as Australia, which banned crystalline silica artificial stone in 2024, as well as physicians, scientists, and occupational health organizations: Artificial stone is so “uniquely toxic” that it cannot be fabricated safely by human beings.
“CAL-OSHA’s prohibition on crystalline silica artificial stone slabs gives them great comfort that their sons, cousins, and friends who work with them in their trade might be spared from a horrific suffocating death,” Nevin told the San Francisco Chronicle. “If only it had come sooner, it might have spared them as well.”
His comments address what California’s prohibition means to families whose loved ones have been diagnosed with silicosis and to workers who may be spared from developing the disease.
David Michaels Warns of a National Silicosis Epidemic
The concerns described in the article have also been raised by David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, an epidemiologist, professor of environmental and occupational health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, and former assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health.
In testimony delivered before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary on January 14, 2026, Michaels described the severity of the disease and the risks associated with artificial stone fabrication.
“The message of my testimony today is very straightforward,” Michaels testified. “Silicosis is a devastating, deadly, and thoroughly preventable disease. And the artificial stone fabrication industry is one of the most hazardous of all the industries where workers are exposed to silica dust.”
He also addressed the expanding scale of the crisis.
“There is a national epidemic of silicosis among workers who are fabricating kitchen countertops made from artificial stone,” Michaels testified. “The number of cases is alarmingly high and growing rapidly.”
Existing Controls Have Not Prevented Harmful Exposure
California’s current silica-dust controls include wet-cutting methods, HEPA-filtered vacuums, and powered air-purifying respirators. The state’s analysis concluded that these measures do not adequately protect workers from the dust generated during artificial stone fabrication.
The prohibition would apply to the fabrication and installation of artificial stone containing more than 1% crystalline silica. Because artificial stone contains at least 90% crystalline silica, the rule would effectively remove the material from countertop fabrication and installation in California.
The prohibition would cover installation as well as fabrication because cutting, grinding, shaping, or adjusting slabs during either stage can generate hazardous respirable silica dust.
Alternative Countertop Materials Remain Available
Homeowners, contractors, and designers can select from several alternative countertop materials. Options discussed in the San Francisco Chronicle article include:
- Tile
- Laminate
- Butcher block
- Porcelain
- Other solid-surface materials
These alternatives can meet a range of functional and aesthetic needs for residential and commercial projects without relying on artificial stone containing high concentrations of crystalline silica.
Brayton Purcell LLP Represents People Diagnosed with Artificial Stone Silicosis
Brayton Purcell LLP represents approximately 600 people who developed silicosis after fabricating artificial stone in California. The firm also represents additional countertop fabrication workers in other parts of the country.
Individuals diagnosed with silicosis after working with artificial stone may contact Brayton Purcell LLP for a confidential consultation. The firm’s experienced attorneys can review the circumstances of the exposure, explain potentially available legal options, and answer questions about pursuing a claim.
About Brayton Purcell LLP
Brayton Purcell LLP is a California law firm with extensive experience representing individuals and families affected by occupational diseases, toxic exposures, and serious personal injuries. The firm represents hundreds of people diagnosed with artificial stone silicosis and has substantial experience handling claims involving silica-related diseases.
Media Contact
Nolan Lowry
Chief Marketing Officer
Brayton Purcell LLP
222 Rush Landing Road
Novato, California 94945
(415) 898-1555
www.braytonlaw.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brayton-purcell-llp-calls-attention-to-san-francisco-chronicle-report-on-californias-planned-artificial-stone-ban-302907598.html
SOURCE Brayton Purcell LLP
