Engineered quartz is used because it is more cost-effective and hard-wearing than a natural stone – but it can have potentially fatal effects for the construction workers installing it. Photo / 123RF
Engineered quartz is used because it is more cost-effective and hard-wearing than a natural stone – but it can have potentially fatal effects for the construction workers installing it. Photo / 123RF
Engineered quartz can cause a fatal lung disease in construction workers. Here are the best alternatives.
Modern kitchen refurbs could be linked to a number of tragic fatalities. The trend for engineered quartz – a popular worktop surface which is cheaper and lighter than marble and granite – is reported to be the cause of an increase in cases of a deadly lung disease.
According to the i newspaper, cases of silicosis have doubled among UK tradesmen, who are at risk of inhaling toxic dust when cutting surfaces such as engineered quartz countertops. 16 young workers, with an average age of 34, have been confirmed as having the incurable disease since last year when the first diagnoses were made in the southeast of England, reports say. This summer, Australia outlawed the use of such engineered stones, which are usually composed of a mix of ground quartz, polymers, pigments and resins, and a coalition of unions and public health and safety experts has urged the New Zealand Government to do the same.
When stonemasons are cutting and grinding materials, a carcinogen known as respirable crystalline silica dust (RCS) is created. Silica is naturally occurring in stones such as granite, porcelain and marble at between 5-40%. However, in engineered quartz it can be as high as 97%.
Engineered quartz has found favour in recent years, with renovators seeking a material that is more cost-effective, consistent in appearance and hard-wearing than a natural stone such as marble, which has been a hot trend in kitchen design. As anyone who has tried to scrub turmeric from a marble worktop can attest, durability is quartz’s superpower.
There are calls for the UK government to follow Australia’s lead. In the meantime, some kitchen companies, such as Kent-based Herringbone, have taken the matter into their own hands by vowing to only work with low-silica (40% or lower) alternatives instead. And there is no shortage of desirable options if you know what to look for. With the startling headlines in mind, here are the key styles you should consider when remodelling your kitchen.
Silica-free quartz
Caesarstone’s silica-free quartz surface in 5110 Alpine Mist.
Caesarstone has launched an entirely silica-free surface, and Neolith has two designs set to be available in New Zealand and the UK soon. Caesarstone’s 5110 Alpine Mist has delicate tonal veining, so it’s no dupe for marble. However, Jonathan Stanley, vice-president of marketing at Caesarstone, says: “Surfaces with a translucent and luminous quality have become increasingly popular. Meeting this demand, we wanted to create a worktop which attracts light and reflects it with elegance, adding character and depth to a space, and providing a unique quality not often seen in natural stone.” Expect to spend £500 ($1,074) per square metre (the installed price).
Low-silica quartz
Caesarstone, along with Silestone, have pivoted to formulate low-silica ranges alongside their usual offering. The SilestoneXM collection has a maximum crystalline silica content of 10%. This winter, Silestone launched a French-inspired collection called Le Chic Boheme, which has marble-inspired surfaces rich in colour and veining for the price of £400 ($859) per square metre. One of Herringbone’s favourite surfaces is Black Tempal by Caesarstone, which has a lower silica content of 40%. Do your due diligence and check with a sales representative what the silica content of a worktop is.
Porcelain is a naturally low-silica choice that is less porous than marble and highly resistant to scratches, stains and heat. William Durrant, of Herringbone, says: “It comes in many different colours and designs that look and feel luxurious, while still being durable.” It’s more expensive than quartz: the cost can align with some types of marble, depending on the specification of the latter. Specific requests in terms of fabrication and mitering (for example, wanting a solid colour on a worktop’s edges) will push the price of installing porcelain up.
Dekton
Dekton is an ultra-compact surface made from a blend of glass, porcelain and quartz.
Dekton is a branded material produced by Cosentino (Silestone’s Spain-based parent company). It’s an ultra-compact surface made from a blend of glass, porcelain and quartz that is resistant to UV rays, stains and thermal shock (which makes it a savvy choice for an outdoor kitchen as well as an indoor one). This summer it launched Pietra Edition, a new range inspired by Mediterranean stones such as travertine and campaspero, but with only 5-11% of crystalline silica content. Expect to pay around £400 ($859) per square metre.
Resilica
There are food recipes and then there are “glass recipes” – just ask Resilica. This Hastings-based company creates glass terrazzo surfaces from recycled glass that can be colour-matched to any scheme. Textural but still smooth to the touch, it is hard-working and food-safe. Made to order, it comes in long lengths and the joints are almost seamless. Resilica deals directly with customers and gives a guide price from £480 ($1,030) per linear metre of worktop. Side note – glass contains non-crystalline silica, which is deemed safe and doesn’t cause silicosis.
Terrazzo wood
Foresso makes wooden worktops using waste wood from trees felled in Britain.
If you’re drawn to the speckled nature of terrazzo stone but are seeking something warmer to the touch, then try Foresso. This Birmingham-based producer of wooden worktops predominantly uses waste wood from trees felled in Britain (and leftover timber from building sites), which is squeezed into plywood-backed sheets. Free of silica by nature, the result is ideal for lending a retro-meets-modern twist to a kitchen. Prices start from £285 ($612) per square metre, and a “busy” surface comes with the added bonus of masking a multitude of crumbs.
What is silicosis and how do people contract it?
Those working in mining, construction and quarrying are also at risk, but faster progression of the disease has been observed in worktop cutters.
A spokesman for the Worktop Fabricators Federation, a non-profit organisation, says: “Products containing silica can be processed safely when proper controls are put in place. We would urge all manufacturers and fitters to ensure that they use suitable controls to protect their workers and themselves from inhaling silica dust.”
Homeowners are on the safe side, as it is only during the production process that RCS is created. RCS poses no risk during installation and there is no danger of toxicity through touching or licking a worktop.
The NHS describes silicosis as a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust, usually over many years. Silica is naturally occurring in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay. Working with these materials creates a very fine dust which, when inhaled, causes inflammation of the lungs and can lead to scarred lung tissue (fibrosis). Stonemasons and worktop fitters are at high risk.
Symptoms of silicosis include a persistent cough and shortness of breath, as well as weakness and tiredness. The condition can be fatal if it leads to respiratory failure. Silicosis can also increase the risk of other serious conditions such as tuberculosis, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, arthritis, kidney disease and lung cancer.
