The Great Banning of Silica Dust Generating Counter Tops

Even the Bath- and Kitchen industry can be quite dramatic at times. Australia have become the first country to ban the engineered counter tops, so favored by bathroom and kitchen designers over the world.

Engineered stone counter tops

Silica is a normal part of any natural stone at a concentration in granite and marble at less than 45%, typically. In engineered counter tops, on the other hand, silica makes up a much higher percentage, ranging from 40% to 95%.

The main reason the silica in normal stone, generally isn’t as harmful is that the stone isn’t ground up into small particles, as is the case with engineered stone. The pros are that the natural weaknesses of the stone are removed and one gets a much cheaper and sturdier counter top than the one merely cut out from a larger stone block.

Silicosis

When natural stone is crushed into particles, the silica crystals are released, called silica dust. When this dust enters the lungs it can wreak havoc with our organs in a deadly lung disease called silicosis.

This disease disproportionally affects younger men under 35, who works with the manufacturing and installation of these counter tops.

From an article in the Guardian:

Sheiphali Gandhi, an assistant professor of medicine from the University of California, San Francisco, who co-authored the study, said the research was the “tip of the iceberg” of the issue in the US.

“Our best estimate based off the data in the US and Australia is that probably 15 to 20% of people who work in this field have silicosis or will develop it,” she said.

According to the same article, only asbestos beats silica dust in generating more health problems in the construction industry.

Alternatives to engineered stone

Protect your local carpenter and don’t buy the engineered stone countertops!

One does not need to look far to spot great alternatives to the engineered health hazard:

• Porcelain:�While not commonly used for counter tops but rather basins, it’s a durable heat and scratch-resistant material.
• Solid Surface materials are a new group of acrylic-based products that are sturdy and very easy to create interesting and durable shapes from.
• Laminate: An affordable option of chipboard covered with a hard laminate surface that can be customized to look like stone, wood, or anything else that floats your boat.
• Natural stone have a lower concentration of silica and are beautiful. Downside is they can be slightly harder to work with.
• Timber and wood creates a natural, warm look and are great options for a kitchen. Just keep in mind they need to be cared for to stay beautiful for a long time.
• Stainless steel is a great option for anyone drawn to the industrial look, or just incredibly bad at maintenance. Stainless steel require almost no upkeep, is extremely durable, but tends to be more expensive.

2024-05-02 11:34