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Quartz countertops have long been a favorite choice of homeowners and interior designers alike due to their strength, nonporous nature, modern look, and uniformity. However, recent discoveries and legal challenges regarding the material’s potential health hazards to fabricators have caused quite a stir and are now reshaping the industry.

The main issue is with crystalline silica that’s a natural mineral found in quartz. When particles are inhaled, they can penetrate deep into a person’s lungs, causing damage that can lead to serious respiratory diseases like silicosis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And many workers have become ill from breathing in dust containing crystalline silica while fabricating quartz countertops.…