Crystalline silica is currently a hot topic within the surfacing industry, after the recent ban of engineered stone worktops in Australia (comes into effect on 1st July 2024) and the US state of California considering the blockage of its use too. Silica poses serious health risks (the second biggest after asbestos) to individuals who are particularly in the construction industry working with natural stones, with conditions such as lung cancer, silicosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found to be a resulting cause of silica exposure.
In this guide, we outline how silica is affecting the surfacing industry, the prospect of its ban in the UK and how solid surfaces can be the next big thing.
Contents
What exactly is silica?
Silica, also known as Silicon Dioxide or SiO2, is a natural substance that combines silicon and oxygen to form a compound found in approximately 12% of the Earth’s crust. Its most prevalent crystalline form, quartz, is commonly used in construction materials ranging from the concrete in foundations to the countertops in your home.
There are two main types of silica – crystalline and amorphous. Crystalline is the type of silica that is extremely harmful to humans, whereas amorphous silica is far less dangerous due its different compound structure.
How dangerous is crystalline silica in surface materials – is engineered stone safe?
Crystalline silica becomes dangerous to humans when the materials they are in are minded, processed or cut, so the finished form (like your kitchen countertops) are not harmful, because the material is bound and the particles are not airborne.
When crystalline silica particles are inhaled (mainly within construction workers), they act much like tiny, jagged razors, slicing through lung tissue and leaving behind scars. Workers exposed to this substance may find their lung tissue formed by nodules and scars as the body attempts to encase the trapped silica particles – over time, this can lead to silicosis, lung cancer, tuberculosis and COPD.
Why are some countries looking to ban silica-containing materials?
With Australia recently banning the use of engineered stone such as quartz and other countries looking at the same possibility (the UK being one of them), it poses the question ‘why are they looking to ban silica-containing materials?’.
Engineered stone such as quartz, granite and sandstone, are typically imported from countries such as China, Turkey and India, where regulations aren’t strictly adhered to, causing international concern for the health and safety of individuals. Mix this with the HSE estimated number of over 500 construction worker deaths directly related to silica, its ban is looking like a real possibility in the UK.
Will engineered stone be banned in the UK?
While confidence persists among many that quartz surfacing will not face a ban, the reality is clouded with uncertainty. It’s important to recognise that similar materials like granite, marble, and especially quartzites, which have a high silica content of over 95%, might also be implicated in any regulatory actions.
Whilst there is existing guidance on the control of exposure to silica dust, this situation suggests that the entire industry both in the UK and abroad, should be prepared for possible changes and alternatives to quartz, granite, marble and other engineered stone.
Should solid surfaces be included in the conversation?
With a potential ban for quartz and other engineered stones on the horizon, solid surfaces could become the next big thing particularly within the domestic sector.
Choosing Hanex® solid surfaces, a composite made from natural minerals bonded with acrylic resin, guarantees a zero-silica content, thereby safeguarding fabricators and installers from the dangers of silica exposure. Opting for Hanex® solid surface worktops ensures a safer work environment and protects those handling the material from potential health hazards associated with silica.
