Workers in California, cutting countertops in dusty workshops, face health risks from inhaling silica particles.
Silicosis, an incurable lung disease, threatens these laborers, with some suffering fatal consequences.
The popularity of engineered stone countertops with high silica content fuels a surge in silicosis cases.
Latino immigrant workers, as young as their 20s, are now experiencing the debilitating effects of silicosis.
Dr. Jane Fazio raises alarm over the increasing cases seen at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.
Silicosis can lead to lung failure, leaving workers breathless and weakened despite possible transplants.
California's workers need protection and awareness to combat this accelerated epidemic of silicosis.