Education＆ScienceEducational Article

Comment by Mark Lavercombe: This study explores the characteristics of engineered stone dust by analysis of fifty types of resin-based engineered stone, three natural stones and two non-resin-based building materials for their crystalline silica, metals and resin content. The investigators exposed human alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages to dust samples, and linear regression was performed to determine association between stone components and cellular response. The results suggest that crystalline silica content only partially explains macrophage toxicity, suggesting concern about the content of reduced-silica engineered stone products might be warranted.