Australia has become the first country in the world to ban engineered stone, following rising cases of silicosis among workers who handle the material, reports Dezeen.
Engineered stone is a type of material made by mixing crushed stone with a resin binder and used for countertops, walls and flooring. While engineered stone is valued as a durable and affordable alternative to natural stone, the engineered materials release a fine silica dust into the air when cut, and critics say engineered stone workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) are significantly over-represented in silicosis cases.