News
Quartz-Fab Silicosis Cited in CDC Report
ATLANTA – The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is citing increases in silicosis cases with engineered-stone fabrication in the United States.
A report issued Oct. 4 by the nation’s health institute identified 18 cases of the lung disease among workers in four states since July 2017. Two of the affected workers died.
“Silica dust exposure reduction and effective regulatory enforcement, along with enhanced workplace medical and public health surveillance, are urgently needed to address the emerging public health threat of silicosis in the stone fabrication industry,” according to the report.
Stone, Quartz Escape Initial "Airbus" Tariff
WASHINGTON – Dimensional surfaces dodged the first round of U.S. tariffs on European Union imports announced on Oct. 3.
The first tariffs of 25%, mainly on food and consumer goods from four EU countries, will begin Oct. 18 as a result of a $7.5 billion arbitration award by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The WTO action is part of a decades-old U.S. claim of EU countries subsidizing Airbus airliner manufacturing.
The original list of tariff-eligible goods from the U.S. Trade Representative included granite, travertine, other stone and quartz surfaces. They could be added to the tariff list later.