成人大片

鈥淭his was the first worldwide study to assess the composition of more than 50 engineered stone products to identify which components pose the greatest risk to lung health,鈥� said , from the 成人大片鈥檚 , who led the study.

鈥淥ur research showed engineered stone鈥檚 metal components may also be hazardous to lung health. In particular, cobalt and aluminium have been associated with lung inflammation.鈥�

Researchers from the 成人大片 and the University of Tasmania exposed human lung cells to respirable dust from 50 resin-based engineered stones, three natural stones and two non-resin-based materials for the study.

鈥淯nlike natural stone, engineered stone emissions contained up to 20 per cent resin, and during cutting and grinding there is the potential for resin to break down and generate harmful chemicals such as styrene,鈥� Dr Ramkissoon said.

鈥淭his potential for co-exposure to various hazards has significant implications for new stone alternatives emerging on the market 鈥� particularly reduced-silica or silica-free stones. There are a lot of unknowns about the safety of these products.鈥�

Previous research from the School of Public Health鈥檚 laboratory, led by , showed processing engineered stone can lead to exposure to very high levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which is a carcinogen.

Silicosis, the disease that develops from exposure to RCS, had largely been eliminated in Australia before the advent of engineered stone. And previously, it would take decades to develop into more serious conditions, like cancer and fibrosis.

However, occupational silicosis from engineered stone develops much faster.

"The form of disease in this occupational group is very severe, characterised by a short latency period and rapid progression to fibrosis and cancer, developing聽after only a few years of exposure to engineered stone dusts,鈥� said Dr Ramkissoon.

In July this year, Dr Ramkissoon and her team delivered , which contributed to the organisation鈥檚 of a complete prohibition on the use of engineered stone.

Since that recommendation, furniture and hardware companies Ikea and Bunnings have banned engineered stone products linked to silicosis from their product range.

Dr Ramkissoon hopes this new research will lead to the meaningful regulation of the production of engineered stone which fully accounts for the dangerous materials it contains, protecting workers from entirely preventable occupational lung diseases.

鈥淭he Stone Industry is currently aggressively marketing "safer" alternatives to engineered stone,鈥� said Dr Ramkissoon.

鈥淥ur research cautions against such claims and proposes further research to understand fully the risks workers are exposed to in the silica dust-generating industries, such as the stone benchtop industry.鈥�

The research is published in the journal .