California's public health department, and hundreds of doctors, say processing of quartz-based slabs into engineered-stone countertops is causing an epidemic of silicosis.
Until two years ago, Oakland father of five Jose Peña could tote a 60-pound slab of countertop with ease. Now, a walk down the block with his kids leaves him gasping for breath and reaching for his oxygen tank.
The aggressive, incurable disease, sili... [10700 chars]