Workers who cut crushed quartz countertops say they are falling ill from a deadly lung disease: "I wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy"
CBSN
Over the past decade, engineered stone countertops made from crushed quartz have taken over the U.S. market. They come in a range of colors and patterns, and manufacturers talk up their advantages.
But compared to natural stone, these slabs often contain much higher levels of crystalline silica — as much as 95%. While the countertops are not a danger to the consumers who've put them in their homes, if inhaled during fabrication, can cause silicosis, which destroys the lungs. Workers who cut and shape those slabs often work in a haze of silica dust, and many are now becoming sick.
The rise of engineered stone countertops, preferred for their heat resistance and variety of colors, has overshadowed the grave health risks associated with their production.
This story previously aired on Sept. 15, 2018. News report: Today, in a 5-1 decision, the California State Supreme Court ruled that Rodney Alcala did not receive a fair trial. Juror: We, the jury, find the defendant, Rodney James Alcala, guilty of the crime of murder in the first degree. Victim Robin C. Samsoe… "I wanna kill, I wanna kill, I wanna see blood and gore and guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean, kill, kill, kill, kill." Jury member [in court]: We, the jury … determine that the penalty to be imposed upon defendant, Rodney James Alcala, to be death. D.A. Cyrus Vance to reporters: For both families, who had lost all hope that these cases would ever be solved, the pleas by Rodney Alcala, and today's sentencing brings closure to painful chapters in their lives.
A new law aims to strengthen reporting requirements for technology companies to combat online predators seeking to exploit children. One dad told CBS News that he hopes the law will save children like his son, who died by suicide after becoming ensnared in a "sextortion" scheme when he was 17 years old.