The Banning of Engineered Stone in Australia: An Evidence-Based and Precautionary Policy

On December 13, 2023, Australia became the first country to ban engineered stone. This material contains more than 80 percent crystalline silica, agglomerated with resins, metal oxides and other (potentially toxic) substances. Engineered stone has become a mass-market product since the late 1990s and has contributed to a worldwide resurgence of accelerated forms of silicosis and a notable incidence of systemic diseases. Such a ban is a very rare event in a world where the regulatory framework governing the use of toxic substances in the workplace is generally limited to setting exposure limits. The Australian decision is exemplary in many respects: it is based on public consultation with all stakeholders, it contributes to updating biomedical knowledge that industries seek to conceal or undermine, and it is based on a realistic vision of real working conditions. In the absence of any evidence that lowering the silica content of this material would reduce occupational hazards related to toxic cocktail effects, this ban implements an evidence-based and precautionary public health policy.