Kitchen revamps linked to lung disease in builders
Posted: Monday, March 4th, 2024
The first cases of a deadly lung disease in tradespeople working with a stone popular in kitchen worktops have been reported in the UK, iNews revealed. Engineered stone is already banned in Australia following a health “epidemic” among workers. Younger workers have contracted silicosis, an irreversible disease that can destroy the lungs, after inhaling toxic dust while cutting and grinding engineered – or artificial – stone, which has been dubbed a modern-day asbestos by union leaders in Australia. Last month, a House of Lords debate on restricting the use of engineered stone heard that nobody has suffered any long-term exposure to silicosis in Britain. It has been discovered that the first cases in the UK were recorded last year, and although reported numbers are small, experts believe the true figure could be higher. Engineered stone and other materials like sandstone contain high levels of silica, a natural substance found in most sand, rocks and clay, which the Health and Safety Executive has said is the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos. Silicosis, which typically occurs after 10 or more years of exposure, can be caused by inhaling large amounts of silica dust called Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS).
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