A common artificial stone surface used in kitchen benchtops across Australia has been linked to a dangerous lung condition.
Silicosis is a lung condition that is being likened to asbestosis that is causing concern among Australians.
An incurable lung disease that is being linked back to the engineered stone used in common kitchen benchtops has elevated concerns about its safety for labourers and residents in Australian homes. Over time, inhaling the dust causes inflammation, scarring of the lung tissue, and stiffening of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
"Here in Australia, we want to eradicate this product, " union official Zach Smith told reporters in Melbourne on Monday "Dust exposure in workers may not be evident until retirement, with chronic obstructive lung disease contributing to a burden on public health expenditure," he said. She worked in a portable office at a quarry for over four years and breathed in enough silica dust for it to wreak havoc on her body. Now, her life is now a constant battle against pain and illness."I want to be there for them because I don't know what my future holds."Kitchen benchtops made from engineered stone are particularly dangerous, with about one in four stonemasons who work with them developing silicosis.
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