There are 604 confirmed cases of artificial stone silicosis in California as of July 29, 2026, according to the California Department of Public Health.
This count includes 31 silicosis deaths in artificial stone workers, a median age of death of 52 and a median diagnosis age of 46.
Silicosis is a mostly occupational lung disease which can be caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica while cutting, grinding, drilling, crushing or polishing stone, artificial stone or concrete.
About 2.3 million workers in the U.S. are exposed to silica dust, according to OSHA.
This content covers silicosis statistics in depth for those who are curious about or have a vested interest in the impact of silicosis in California.
Call our experienced silicosis lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one has developed the silica-associated lung disease silicosis after experiencing crystalline silica exposure in the workplace. We can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more and we will charge you no legal fee until we win your case.
California Silicosis Statistics: Key Takeaways
- There have been 604 confirmed cases of engineered stone silicosis in California as well as 31 deaths as of July 29, 2026, according to the California Department of Public Health.
- 99.8 percent of these confirmed engineered stone silicosis cases in California are male, with 98 percent being Latino.
- Of these confirmed cases with known transplant status, 72 underwent a lung transplant, 51 were referred for an evaluation and 21 were found ineligible.
- 36 percent of tested workers were at or above the action level for silica exposure, according to an American Journal of Industrial Medicine research article.
- 91 percent of interviewed workers reported performing dust-generating tasks, according to a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
- The California Department of Public Health notes that engineered stone silicosis cases identified in 2026 are expected to increase.
Table of Contents
- California Silicosis Cases by the Numbers
- What Is Driving California’s Rise in Engineered Stone Silicosis?
- Who Faces the Highest Risk for Silicosis in California?
- How Elevated Is Workplace Silica Exposure Among California Fabrication Workers?
- What Do Screening and Clinical Studies Show About Silicosis Severity?
- California Silica Exposure Limits and Safety Benchmarks
- Silica Exposure Prevention
- General Silicosis Statistics and Facts
- Health Risks of Silicosis
- Silicosis Treatment Options
- Legal Options for California Workers Diagnosed With Silicosis
- Deadlines for Filing a California Silicosis Claim
- Contact Our California Silicosis Attorneys Today
California Silicosis Cases by the Numbers
There have been 604 confirmed cases of engineered stone silicosis in California as of July 29, 2026, according to the California Department of Public Health.
This is a count of diagnosed cases, not an estimate of everyone exposed to silica dust or everyone with undiagnosed silicosis.
31 deaths have been tied to these confirmed cases. The median diagnosis age of these cases is 46. The median age of death regarding these cases is 52.
72 of these cases underwent a lung transplant. 51 of these cases were referred for transplant evaluation. 21 of these cases were found ineligible for transplant.
99.8 percent of these confirmed cases are male. 98 percent are Latino.
An American Public Health Association study investigated 648 individuals who had been reported for possible silicosis, confirming 296 cases, a rate of 46 percent. 243 of those 296 cases were linked with engineered stone exposure.
There has been a growth trend across recent snapshots:
| Snapshot | Count of silicosis cases |
| 2023 Jama Internal Medicine case series | 52 |
| American Public Health Association study covering data through 2024 | 243 |
| 2025 California Department of Publc Health advisory | 432 |
| California Department of Public Health (as of July 29, 2026) | 604 |
As of November 2025, the breakdown of cases by county for counties with at least 10 cases is as follows, according to the California Department of Public Health:
| County | Cases |
| Los Angeles | 226 |
| Orange | 86 |
| San Diego | 34 |
| Contra Costa | 19 |
| Alameda | 15 |
| San Bernardino | 13 |
| Riverside | 10 |
Silicosis became a reportable disease in California in June 2025. This means providers are required to report confirmed or suspected cases to local health departments within seven calendar days.
The above data does not necessarily reflect a straight incidence increase. Part of the growth in the data has been driven by improved reporting and case finding.
What Is Driving California’s Rise in Engineered Stone Silicosis?
The cutting and finishing of engineered stone countertops releases high concentrations of crystalline silica dust, according to a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
According to that letter, engineered stone countertops commonly contain more than 90 percent crystalline silica, compared to under 45 percent in granite and under five percent in marble.
This material composition raises the health risk compared to older stone fabrication work because it is crystalline silica dust which causes silicosis.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that about 2.3 million workers in the United States face occupational silica exposure.
91 percent of interviewed workers reported performing dust generating tasks, according to a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 26 percent of those workers sometimes utilized dry cutting methods which increase exposure to airborne silica dust.
OSHA estimates that about 2.3 million workers in the United States face occupational silica exposure.
Who Faces the Highest Risk for Silicosis in California?
Engineered stone fabrication workers, especially Latino immigrant men, face the highest documented silicosis risk in California, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine case series and the California Department of Public Health.
99.8 percent of all confirmed cases in California are male, with 98 percent being Latino, according to the California Department of Public Health, which states that the median diagnosis age for California engineered stone silicosis cases is 46 and the median death age is 52.
All 52 patients were men, with a median diagnosis age of 45 and with 51 of them being Latino immigrants in a JAMA Internal Medicine case series.
A letter to the editor of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine documented a single company screening study where all screened workers were Hispanic men with a median age of 37.
According to that letter, workers with silicosis had a median employment duration of 14.9 years. Workers without silicosis had a median employment duration of 6.5 years.
68 percent of surveyed workers said that their employer never shared the results of silica monitoring, according to a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
How Elevated Is Workplace Silica Exposure Among California Fabrication Workers?
Over one third of sampled fabrication workers exceed safe silica exposure thresholds, according to an American Journal of Industrial Medicine research article.
That article analyzed exposure to respirable crystalline silica regarding 152 employees at 47 workplaces. 25 percent of employees had exposures above the permissible limit and 11 percent had exposures between the action limit and the permissible limit.
51 percent of workplaces had at least one exposure above the permissible limit. 15 percent of workplaces had at least one exposure between the action limit and the permissible limit.
72 percent of workplaces were cited for at least one respirable crystalline silica standard violation. 57 percent of workplaces were cited for at least one respiratory protection standard violation.
The highest air sampling result was over 13 times the legal limit.
75 percent of workers reported wearing respirators. However, only 20 percent reported receiving a fit test in the past year.
What Do Screening and Clinical Studies Show About Silicosis Severity?
Chest radiograph screening and clinical follow up studies demonstrate that silicosis cases can progress severely and quickly.
A single workplace screening study found silicosis in five of 43 current workers, a 12 percent rate of prevalence, according to a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. This figure comes from one company. It should not be generalized statewide.
10 of 52 patients, or 19 percent, had died by June 2023 in a JAMA Internal Medicine case series. The median time from diagnosis to death was 35 months. This series was a selected clinical sample. It does not represent a fatality rate for all exposed workers.
Of confirmed cases with known transplant status, 72 have undergone a lung transplant, 51 have been referred for evaluation and 21 have been found ineligible, according to the California Department of Public Health.
California Silica Exposure Limits and Safety Benchmarks
California sets a permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour workday, according to Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, section 5204. It sets an action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
Reaching the action level can trigger required monitoring and medical surveillance obligations for employers.
The silica content of engineered stone, usually over 90 percent, sits well above benchmarks for granite and marble.
Silica Exposure Prevention
When engineering and work-practice controls cannot adequately limit silica exposure, employers may need to provide properly selected NIOSH-approved respirators. Depending on the measured exposure level, an N95 or more protective respirator may be required.
Cutting needs to be done using dust control measures such as wet-cutting techniques.
Workplaces should use and properly maintain effective air and water filtration systems.
Employers need to conduct regular exposure assessments regarding silica dust.
General Silicosis Statistics and Facts
Severe silicosis kills over 12,900 people each year, according to a Journal of Thoracic Disease study.
An estimated 2.6 million workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica live with silicosis around the world, according to a BMC Public Health systematic review.
The prevalence of silicosis rises sharply with age, especially after the age of 50, according to a Frontiers in Public Health original research article.
U.S. silicosis cases have increased since 2015, according to a CHEST Pulmonary article.
230 million workers get exposed to crystalline silica every year, according to a Toxicology Reports review.
There is typically a 20-year lag time between exposure to respirable crystalline silica and the development of chronic silicosis, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
Crystalline silica is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a known human carcinogen.
Construction workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica found in concrete, brick, mortar and stone.
Increased X-ray opacities suggest that coal miners face more silica exposure.
Young workers are increasingly developing accelerated silicosis linked with engineered stone fabrication.
Foundry workers get exposed to silica during sand core production.
Gas and oil extraction workers are exposed to silica dust which is airborne.
The manufacturing of ceramics involves the mixing of clay which releases silica dust. Ceramic workers face an increased risk of lung and kidney disease.
Men are more likely to develop silicosis than women because of occupational exposure patterns.
Silicosis’ incidence has increased because of population growth and industrialization.
The prevalence of silicosis is especially high in regions with stone-processing, construction and mining industries.
Amorphous silica, unlike crystalline silica, does not cause silicosis.
Health Risks of Silicosis
Silicosis is an incurable lung disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a severe disease caused by silica exposure. The inhalation of respirable crystalline silica can cause damage to lung tissue and lung function which is irreversible, including silica-related diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The symptoms of silicosis that silica-exposed workers may experience include shortness of breath, fatigue and cough.
Silicosis may lead to complications such as tuberculosis, lung cancer and progressive massive fibrosis.
Acute silicosis may develop within months after large exposures to silica dust, leading to severe, rapid respiratory failure.
The disease progression of silicosis can continue even after silica dust exposure is stopped.
Silicosis affects the lung parenchyma by causing progressive scarring, hard nodule formation and inflammation.
Some studies have shown a link between silica exposure and autoimmune disease.
Silicosis Treatment Options
The treatment of silicosis focuses on the management of symptoms and the prevention of further exposure to silica dust.
Lung transplantation may be an option for carefully selected patients with end-stage silicosis.
Corticosteroids could help in cases involving inflammation and recent exposure.
Some patients have shown radiographic improvement after whole lung lavage.
Silicosis is preventable but not curable.
Legal Options for California Workers Diagnosed With Silicosis
Workers diagnosed with silicosis due to workplace silica exposure may have legal options beyond workers’ compensation. This can include third party claims against material or tool manufacturers.
Those who may qualify include:
- Fabrication shop employees
- Workers with a confirmed engineered stone silicosis diagnosis
- Family members of workers who died from silicosis complications
Documentation which can strengthen a claim includes:
- Employment history
- Air sampling records
- Medical diagnosis
- Respirator fit test history
Compensation may be available for:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Case value depends on silicosis severity, documentation and individual circumstances.
Deadlines for Filing a California Silicosis Claim
California has strict filing deadlines for personal injury and wrongful death claims which are linked with occupational disease. This deadline is usually two years from the date of discovering that silicosis was caused by occupational exposure to silica dust, but there are exceptions which can lengthen or shorten this time limit.
Workers should not wait, regardless of the statute of limitations, and should quickly speak with an attorney given case-specific nuances.
Prompt legal consultation is advised after any silicosis diagnosis or concern about occupational silica exposure.
Contact Our California Silicosis Attorneys Today
Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one has developed silicosis after being exposed to crystalline silica dust in the workplace.
It is urgent that you contact us today due to the need to preserve evidence as well as filing deadlines.
We have been representing hazardous exposure victims since we were founded in 1990, we can help you seek financial compensation and we will charge you no legal fee until we win your case.
Call us today.
