‘An Unacceptable Risk’: New Report Pushes for Engineered Stone Ban

Inhaling engineered stone particles after cutting and grinding can cause silicosis, an irreversible and potentially deadly lung cancer.

Quartz, an engineered stone, now comes in a wide variety of colors and designs, some of which mimic natural materials such as marble. Papah-kah/Shutterstock

A new report has urged the Australian government to impose a total ban on engineered stone after it was linked to a high risk of causing deadly lung diseases.

Engineered stone is commonly used in kitchen and bathroom surfaces such as countertops and benchtops, but it has been a topic of controversy as it can contain up to 95 percent of silica, compared to five to 50 percent in natural stone.