From the linked-to https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-10/stone-cutting-for-kitchen-benchtops-sparks-silicosis-crisis/10357342 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-

From the linked-to https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-10/stone-cutting-for-kitchen-benchtops-sparks-silicosis-crisis/10357342 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-10/stone-cutting-for-kit... "Engineered stone can contain up to 90 per cent silica, much higher than the content in granite or marble." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineered_stone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineered_stone describes it as "a composite material made of crushed stone bound together by an adhesive to create a solid surface, (most commonly polymer resin, with some newer versions using cement mix). This category includes engineered quartz (SiO2), polymer concrete and engineered marble stone." and "99.9% pure silica in grits and powder form constitutes 90–93% of the body by weight dispersed in a matrix of unsaturated polyester resin (7–10%) mixed with peroxide catalyst and cobalt accelerator which facilitates the curing of the thermoset at ambient temperature." At the bottom it says "As with any silica-containing stone, silicosis can result from breathing dust produced when cutting or processing engineered stone made with quartz", so it would seem the risk is low after the counter top is manufactured. FWIW, "Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite", with little silica - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble Granite is about 72% silica - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite .