Low silica materials and why they are important

When you or your client is choosing a material for their kitchen or bathroom worktops, there are many things to take into consideration such as durability, aesthetics, ease of maintenance, availability and price. At times, the breadth of materials on offer can feel overwhelming, and manufacturers, fabricators and suppliers will all have their favourite or latest material to push. However, one important aspect that often goes overlooked – until very recently – is the silica content in the materials you select.

Why is the silica content important?

Silica is found in many materials used for worktops, such as quartz, natural stone, and some engineered stones. While these materials are known for their durability and beauty, they come with a hidden danger: the dust generated from cutting, grinding, or polishing them can pose serious health risks. The recent media coverage of eight confirmed cases of silicosis (this article in i news is one of many reporting on this isssue) in UK stone workers attributed to artificial stone (quartz and other engineered stones with a high silica content) has brought the silica content of worktop materials under the spotlight.

Materials with a high silica content can release fine, respirable crystalline silica particles into the air when the material is being crafted into a worktop, tabletop or counter. Prolonged exposure to these particles can cause silicosis – a serious and potentially fatal lung disease – as well as increase the risk of other respiratory issues and lung diseases. For those working with these materials regularly, such as stone fabricators and masons, the risks are particularly high.

Is quartz high in silica?

In short, yes. Quartz can have silica content levels of up to 97% according to Safe Work Australia. Due to a recent surge in cases of silicosis in stone workers there, the Australian government has banned the use, supply and manufacture of quartz in July 2024.

However once a slab of quartz has been processed, made into a worktop and installed in a kitchen or bathroom, quartz is very durable and safe for end-consumers. It is the processing of quartz, and in fact any solid surface material – the cutting, grinding, or polishing – that can pose serious health risks to the fabricators. These health risks can be avoided if fabricators wear protective PPE, even with high silica slabs such as quartz and sandstone.

Why should I choose low silica quartz / man-made materials?

Choosing a low silica material for kitchen or bathroom worktops will significantly reduce the health risks for the workers who are cutting, polishing and making them. Materials with a lower silica content produce less harmful dust, making them safer to work with and install. Once fitted, the silica poses no danger to the homeowners or end-users. Responsible stone fabrication business owners and design firms will be thinking however about the potential impact on the health of the stone workers completing projects on their behalf.

Low silica materials offer the same looks and durability as high-silica materials. Certain natural stones (marble is very low silica content at between 2 to 3%), solid surface materials, and newer engineered surfaces such as the Cosmolite Supernova collection provide a range of styles and finishes without compromising on safe silica content levels.

As a specifier, designer, fabricator or homeowner, what can I do about the risks of creating kitchen worktops?

• Always choose low silica content materials – this will help protect the health of the people creating the worktops.
• If you are a designer or homeowner, ask your fabricator to tell you about their health & safety practices – silicosis is preventable if the correct health & safety practices such as wet cutting, ventilation, extraction, PPE and respirators are used to protect the workers’ health.
• Ask for a tour of your fabricator’s workshops or factory – see first-hand how serious they are about the health of their workers; the workshops should be well-ventilated, wet-cutting employed only and all the team members wearing respirators when working the stone.
• Ask for details of any independent verifications, certifications and accreditations awarded to the manufacturers of the man-made worktop material. Bodies and awards such as the NSF, UL GreenGuard, Declare Label and European Food Contact Materials for example will have verified the composition and suitability of the material for use in the home, hospitality or workplace. Ask for a copy of the product’s EPD document (Environmental Product Declaration). This document measures the environmental impact of a product and all the data it contains has to be collected and verified by an independent third party.
• And finally, don’t put your end-user’s health at risk, especially if that is your family – Double check that the NSF certification for your chosen material is safe for use with food is real. Sadly some resellers and manufacturers put the NSF logo on their brochures but when you check the NSF listing, it has not been verified for use in a food prep area, only for a splash zone or not at all. Visit the NSF website and search for your chosen material here.

To see Stone Italiana’s certifications – see them all on our downloads page here and see their listing on the NSF website here.

If you want to know more about Stone Italiana’s low silica content collection – Cosmolite Supernova – then visit the collection page here and download the brochure here.

We also source and supply natural stone for fabricators and design firms across the UK. Check out our live slab inventory here where you will find some naturally low silica marble slabs in stock right now. Just call if you need us to source something specific. We can deliver it direct to your fabrication workshop.