California expected to ban quartz countertops to curb fatal lung disease

The short version

• California plans an emergency regulation this month banning quartz countertops with over 1% crystalline silica due to silicosis risks.[CNET]
• The policy targets occupational hazards from inhaled silica dust, which puts an estimated 2.3 million U.S. workers at risk according to the National Cancer Institute.[CNET]
• If enacted, California would become the first U.S. state to ban quartz countertops, following a nationwide ban in Australia in 2024.[CNET]
• Whether other U.S. states will adopt similar prohibitions across the estimated $14.8 billion global market remains unknown.[CNET]

Key facts

• California is anticipated to approve an emergency regulation this month banning quartz countertops containing over 1% crystalline silica.[CNET]
• Cutting or drilling crystalline silica creates dust that causes silicosis, an incurable and fatal respiratory condition with symptoms that can take 15 to 20 years to appear.[CNET]
• The National Cancer Institute estimates that 2.3 million workers across the United States face occupational silica exposure.[CNET]
• California would be the first state in the nation to enact a ban, while Australia became the only country to do so when its ban took effect in 2024.[CNET]
• Estimates evaluate the worldwide quartz market at $14.8 billion as of 2026.[CNET]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• California to Ban Quartz Countertops Amid Health ConcernsCNET