Silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica particles, is affecting young Latino immigrants working in the booming countertop industry in California. The disease, which is typically seen in older workers after many years of exposure, is now afflicting men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Silicosis can cause severe scarring in the lungs and ultimately lead to lung failure. The high concentrations of silica in engineered stone, a popular material for countertops, have led to a new epidemic of the disease. Some workers have died in their 30s while waiting for lung transplants.
https://news.yahoo.com/california-workers-cut-countertops-dying-100021788.html