Tradies warned after silica from engineered stone linked to new lineup of potentially fatal diseases

An Australian-first study has uncovered an “irreversible” link between engineered stone and a lineup of potentially fatal diseases — prompting a major warning to tradies who have been exposed.

People working with engineered stone benchtops have a greater risk of developing auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, new research has warned.

The high incidence of deadly lung disease silicosis among workers in the sector has previously been linked to long-term exposure to silica dust.

But researchers from Monash University have uncovered the disease burden may be even greater.

A study of 1200 Victorian participants who had worked in the industry found them to be two and a half times more likely to have biomarkers for auto-immune diseases.

These biomarkers, or blood signals, included a rare rheumatic disease called scleroderma or systemic sclerosis, usually seen in women.

Monash professor Karen Walker-Bone, who led the study, said the condition could be fatal.

“This is a nasty condition that is irreversible and can be fatal that we have seen in association with silicosis and silica-exposed workers,” Professor Walker-Bone said.

“It affects the skin and the blood vessels that supply your fingers and toes and can cause also damage to internal organs including the bowel, kidneys and lungs.”

Josh Hunt was diagnosed with silicosis after working with engineered stone. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Professor Walker-Bone said one in four people in the study had autoantibodies which could be associated with life-changing and potentially deadly diseases.

“I’ve never seen an estimate that high in a young male population,” she said.

Professor Walker-Bone said it was “very unusual” to see such a high prevalence of these antibodies in young men — particularly being that both silicosis and auto-immune conditions could develop over as much as 20 years.

“(This study) is not to say they are going to get some other horrible disease, but to highlight silicosis is not the only complication of silica exposure and there’s already some signs that it might be causing some additional health issues.

“This data suggests that, as well as screening for silicosis in these workers, they should also be screened for auto-immune disease.”

The effects of silica dust can be deadly. Picture: Supplied

The results of the Australian-first study could lead to a compensation review for exposed workers who may need additional long-term medical care.

Professor Walker-Bone said it was important for workers and GPs to use the results of the study to connect silica exposure with other health problems.

“Pro rata disability compensation is trying to put back what you have lost,” she said.

“So it is really that the potential amount of disability caused by your silica exposure could potentially be much changed by these diagnoses.

“People may have been offered compensation based on the fact their silicosis was stable, but it won’t be enough if they get another nasty disease that may mean their hands don’t work properly or that they can no longer work.”

Monash University’s Professor Karen Walker-Bone hopes to raise awareness with the findings of her study. Picture: Supplied

Professor Walker-Bone said WorkSafe Victoria should be commended for funding the screening of industry workers.

It is thought that around 1500 Victorians were working in the industry before the manufacture, supply and installation of engineered stone benchtops was banned nationally on July 1 due to the high incidence of silicosis.

The study marked the first to screen stone benchtop workers in Victoria at risk of silicosis. The average age of the study participants was 42 years.

Originally published as Tradies warned after silica from engineered stone linked to new lineup of potentially fatal diseases