Is quartz safe? Silica in engineered stone explained

The short answer

Chopping, cooking and cleaning on an installed quartz worktop release no silica dust at all. The hazard exists where the slab is sawn, ground and polished.

Why cutting is the problem

Crystalline silica occurs in sand, clay and many rocks, and standard engineered quartz contains a particularly high proportion. Sawing and polishing it throws up very fine dust, and stoneworkers who inhale it year after year risk silicosis and other lasting lung damage.

What the regulator did in 2026

On 11 May 2026 the Health and Safety Executive declared dry cutting of engineered stone unacceptable, restated that firms must cut wet with water suppression, and committed to more than a thousand inspections within the following year. According to the regulator, dry methods produce several times the dust exposure of wet ones.

Choosing a lower-silica worktop

A growing number of brands make quartz with much less silica, or none, that looks and behaves much like the original. Tell us if you want one. Natural stones generally hold less crystalline silica than ordinary engineered quartz; porcelain varies from product to product, so check the maker’s data sheet.

What to ask a worktop company

• Is every cut made wet, with water suppression?
• Does the design you like come in a reduced-silica version?
• How are adjustments handled on installation day?