The iNews recently featured the case of stonemason, Malik Al-Khalil, left with a long term lung disese, after cutting engineered stone for kitchen work tops, who is now urging a complete ban of the product entirely. 

He wants to make people aware of the health issues and is calling for the UK Government to ban the use of engineered stone to protect others.

Engineerd stone is primarily made from crushed quartz and adhesives such as polymer resins and pigments. It has a higher concentration of silica than natural stone. In fact, the Architects Newspaper states it has, typcially 90% silica content compared to natural stone such as granite which has forty five to fifity percent and marble only 5 percent.  However the use of engineered stone became very popular for kitchen worktops due to its uniform colour options and budget prices compared to natural stone. The high silica content comes with serious health issues due to the link of silica dust to the lung disease, silicosis. The engineered stone can also contain BPA and PFAS which has been linked to reproductive disorders and cancer.

It is important to note, the Australian government has now banned the use of engineered stone under their Work Health and Safety laws to protect workers from breathing in the high levels of silica dust produced when cutting or polishing the stone and California, in the USA is likely to follow suit. The Australian construction uinon would even like engineered stone removal to be treated like asbestos removal.

But so far the UK government has not yet commented and the TUC, the body which represents trade unions in the UK was not calling for the product to be banned.  However it did comment, ' it was "vital" to ensure the health and safety regulator had tougher powers' for health and safety regulation. They stated, the case of Mr Malik Al-Khalil was "deeply sad” and showed that more had to be done to ensure workers were protected.'

The Architects Newspaper however does recognise the role of architects and designers in the U.S. ' in the safety of building products' and their own 'ethical responsibility.' 

Stop press: Stone Bulletin 8aug24  First eight cases of silicosis in the UK due to artificial stone reported.

Update 2025: New guidelines have been issued in the UK by the Health and Safety watchdog to protect tradespeople when cutting stone worktops. The HSE guidance stone worker guidance includes water suppression tools to dampen the area when cutting the worktop together with suitable face masks. Employers need to provide this safety equipment. 

Experts and doctors have called for a complete ban on cutting artificial stone for work tops but so far the UK government has not given its support even though a public petition did called for a ban. The UK Green Party and the TUC (Trades Union Congress), also supported a ban on high-silica engineered stone due to the high risk of silicosis for workers who cut and install these materials.

The iNews has carried out a long running investigation into the toxic dust from cutting engineered stone for kitchen worktops. They interviewed many former stonemasons who were ill from the silica dust and some have since died after giving their warning to others.   

An iNews article by Joe Duggan, in August 2025 reported that, the UK governement has, instead of an outright ban, done a deal with two major importers to restrict engineered stone products, 'Man-made quartz, is cheaper than natural stone and has become popular for home refurbishments, and will now be restricted according to its silica content under this deal.' 

Also see Australian Government 'Prohibition on the use of engineered stone'