India, Oct. 8 -- California could become the first U.S. state to ban Quartz kitchen countertop material as the number of workers suffering from a serious lung disease continues to rise.
Quartz can release dangerous silica dust when it is cut, drilled, ground, sanded, polished or otherwise processed. Workers who regularly breathe in these tiny particles can develop silicosis, a serious lung disease that causes permanent damage. Common symptoms include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain and muscle weakness.
According to Cleveland Clinic, some types of silica dust may take up to 10 years of exposure to cause lung disease. Notably, no cure can reverse the lung damage caused by silicosis, and some patients eventuall...