Artificial stone dust impact reaches further

In a sobering development for Australia’s stone benchtop industry, a groundbreaking study by Monash University’s Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health has revealed that workers exposed to artificial stone dust are twice as likely to suffer from asthma compared to the general population. This finding adds a cruel twist to an already dire situation, as the industry grapples with a widespread outbreak of silicosis—a deadly lung disease linked to engineered stone. The research underscores the urgent need for broader clinical awareness of respiratory risks beyond silicosis, highlighting the complex and compounding health threats faced by workers in this hazardous sector.

Key findings from the Monash University study on respiratory health in the stone benchtop industry conducted during a voluntary respiratory health screening in Victoria (2019–2021) and Involved 450 workers from the stone benchtop industry.

Asthma Prevalence:

1. • 20% of participants reported having asthma.
   • This is nearly double the national average of 11%.
   • Among workers with high or very high dust exposure, 24.1% reported asthma, compared to 12.6% among those with low or medium exposure.

Respiratory Symptoms:

1. • High rates of shortness of breath, coughing, and sputum production.
   • Symptoms like wheezing and difficulty breathing were less common but still notable.

Work-Related Symptom Patterns:

1. • 63.2% of those with wheezing or breathing difficulty reported symptom improvement during holidays.
   • 57.7% saw improvement on weekends, indicating symptoms are work-related.

Silicosis Context:

1. • The industry is already facing a major outbreak of silicosis, affecting an estimated 25% of workers exposed to engineered stone.
   • Australia banned engineered stone products in July 2024 due to the lack of a safe threshold for crystalline silica.

Clinical Implications:

1. • Researchers urge clinicians to consider asthma and COPD alongside silicosis when treating exposed workers.