NEW THREAT
UK must brace for ‘rapid rise’ in killer lung disease from inhaling ‘next asbestos’ linked to kitchen worktops
High-silica artificial stone is still growing in popularity in the UK for kitchen and bathroom renovations
BRITAIN is set for a rapid rise in killer lung disease cases in young people linked to trendy kitchen worktops, experts have warned.
The first death and cases of silicosis among men who have worked with an artificial stone have been reported in the UK this year.
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Victims develop severe scarring and injuries in the lungs from inhaling dust while working with material containing lots of silica.
Andrew Cooper, a solicitor at Leigh Day, is representing the first UK patients diagnosed with silicosis after working with the stone.
He told The Sun: "We sadly think it's very likely that we're going to see a significant increase in cases going forward, based on countries like Australia."
High-silica artificial stone, also known as quartz or engineered stone, has been banned in Australia after being labelled 'modern-day asbestos' due to hundreds of suspected cases.
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The fake stone is still growing in popularity in the UK for kitchen and bathroom renovations as it mimics marble or granite at a lower cost.
Speaking to The Sun, Dr Johanna Feary, consultant in occupational lung disease at Royal Brompton Hospital, echoed Andrew's fears.
“We saw our first confirmed case of silicosis due to artificial stone in the UK in 2023," she said.
"This year we have seen a steady increase in the number of cases which is of great concern.
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"Sadly at least one person had died to date.
"You can have the disease without having any symptoms and we expect that there will be many more cases coming forward in the future.”
Understanding Types of Chronic Lung Diseases
Just 16 months ago, Leigh Day hadn't ever seen a single case of engineered stone-related silicosis in the UK.
Since then, the number of lawsuits they've taken on related to the illness has reached almost ten.
"What's really concerning is that most of these men are only in their 20s and 30s, and they're being left with serious disabilities so early in life," Andrew explained.
He believes young workers could be more vulnerable because they often do most of the heavy manual labour in workshops, which includes cutting and handling artificial stones.
Reflecting on the health of his clients, the lawyer said, "Some of these men have severe respiratory disabilities and need round-the-clock oxygen therapy.
"This means they have to carry oxygen canisters around with them everywhere to breathe.
"But the significant breathlessness can make it hard to walk or even walk.
"We've also got clients who have been in hospital receiving end-of-life care".
Men are dying
Marek Marzec is one of these men who are already dying from silicosis brought on by years of cutting kitchen worktops.
For the 48-year-old dad, the disease has progressed to such an advanced stage that doctors have given him just weeks to live.
Wessam al Jundi, 28, died in May 2024, five days after being admitted for a lung transplant due to severe lung disease, according to a Prevention of Future Death report seen by .
He was exposed to toxic silica dust while cutting engineered stone slabs in a London workshop from 2016 and diagnosed five years later.
Earlier this year, Malik Al-Khalil, 28, contracted silicosis after five years of cutting quartz worktops in London.
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He told inews that doctors had warned him he could die after falling seriously ill with the lung disease.
Leigh Day is calling for better safety measures, like good PPE, to be enforced and put in place in workshops to ward off an asbestos-style lung disease epidemic in craftsmen.
They're also calling for silicosis triggered by cutting stones to be recognised as a prescribed disease so that patients can be fast-tracked and treated effectively.
A recent study found that stone workers developed acute silicosis, causing severe breathlessness and disability, with lung transplants often being the only treatment.
Unfortunately, some patients - like Marek - are too unwell by the time they receive treatment to undergo such an operation.
Experts have also called for a ban on quartz kitchens and bathrooms to ward off an asbestos-style lung disease epidemic in craftsmen.
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In the UK, kitchen companies have also limited sales of engineered stone worktops.
However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has stated that it is not planning any restrictions, opting instead to focus on promoting safe-cutting practices.
Lung silicosis: Everything you need to know
Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years.
Once inside the lungs, silica causes swelling (inflammation) and gradually leads to areas of hardened and scarred lung tissue (fibrosis).
Lung tissue that's scarred in this way doesn't function properly.
People who work in the following industries are particularly at risk:
- Stone masonry and stone cutting – especially with sandstone
- Construction and demolition – as a result of exposure to concrete and paving materials
- Worktop manufacturing and fitting
- Pottery, ceramics and glass manufacturing
- Mining and quarrying
- Sandblasting
The symptoms of silicosis usually take many years to develop, and you may not notice any problems until after you've stopped working with silica dust.
The symptoms can also continue to get worse, even if you're no longer exposed.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of silicosis are:
- A persistent cough
- Persistent shortness of breath
- Weakness and tiredness
Source: NHS
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