18 Mar 2024

Doctors calling for ban on kitchen benchtop stone due to health risks

From Checkpoint, 4:08 pm on 18 March 2024

Doctors are calling for a ban on engineered stone that's commonly used in kitchen and bathroom benchtops saying it's causing serious illness and death to workers, who are processing it.

Silica dust from engineered or human made stone has been proven to cause the lung disease Silicosis, as well as cancer, kidney and heart disease.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has written to the government saying about a thousand former and current stone masons are at risk.

Dr Alexandra Muthu spokesperson for the Royal Australiasian College of Physicians, speaks to Lisa Owen.