From Engineered Stone Slab to Silicosis: A Synthesis of Exposure Science and Medical Evidence

Engineered stone (ES) is a popular building product, due to its architectural versatility and generally lower cost. However, the fabrication of organic resin-based ES kitchen benchtops from slabs has been associated with alarming rates of silicosis among workers. In 2024, fifteen years after the fir...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2024-05, Vol.21 (6), p.683
Main Authors: Ramkissoon, Chandnee, Gaskin, Sharyn, Song, Yong, Pisaniello, Dino, Zosky, Graeme R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aesthetics
Automation
Dust
Lung diseases
Manufacturers
Occupational health
Pathogenesis
Quartz
Resins
Review
Silicosis
Stone
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
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Summary:Engineered stone (ES) is a popular building product, due to its architectural versatility and generally lower cost. However, the fabrication of organic resin-based ES kitchen benchtops from slabs has been associated with alarming rates of silicosis among workers. In 2024, fifteen years after the first reported ES-related cases in the world, Australia became the first country to ban the use and importation of ES. A range of interacting factors are relevant for ES-associated silicosis, including ES material composition, characteristics of dust exposure and lung cell-particle response. In turn, these are influenced by consumer demand, work practices, particle size and chemistry, dust control measures, industry regulation and worker-related characteristics. This literature review provides an evidence synthesis using a narrative approach, with the themes of product, exposure and host. Exposure pathways and pathogenesis are explored. Apart from crystalline silica content, consideration is given to non-siliceous ES components such as resins and metals that may modify chemical interactions and disease risk. Preventive effort can be aligned with each theme and associated evidence.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph21060683