The Evolving Landscape Of Kitchen Countertop Silicosis Litigation In The U.S.

Silicosis cases are making a comeback in toxic tort litigation. Engineered quartz stone is designed with over 90% crystalline silica content¹, and just ask your neighbor with the new house-it is very popular. Between 2010 and 2018, U.S. imports of engineered stone slabs increased by 800%.²

The re-emergence of silicosis cases can be traced back to California. In California alone, more than 170 confirmed silicosis cases among countertop fabricators have been identified since 2021, with at least 50 active lawsuits.³ Recently, the California Department of Public Health found that at least 37% of the confirmed silicosis cases identified through electronic case reporting from health care facilities were associated with the fabrication of engineered stone countertops.⁴