Canadian respiratory journal
Silicosis Among Engineered Stone Workers in Ontario, Canada: A Case Series of 20 Patients
By Abdelsayad A, Lau A and Tarlo SM.
Abstract
Background
Silicosis is a preventable occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica. Although traditionally associated with mining, it is increasingly recognized among workers who fabricate engineered stone, also referred to as artificial stone, for kitchen and other countertops. In Canada, updated surveillance data are limited, and no published case series have characterized engineered stone-associated silicosis.
Methods
We report a retrospective case series of 20 patients diagnosed with silicosis following occupational exposure to engineered stone in Ontario, Canada, between November 2015 and September 2025. Demographic, occupational, clinical, radiologic, and functional data were extracted from medical records. Continuous variables are reported as median and interquartile range (IQR).