엔지니어드 스톤의 제조, 시공 및 가정 내 유지관리 전 과정에서 발생하는 결정형 유리규산(RCS) 노출 위험과 보건학적 제언 = Risks of Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica Across the Lifecycle of Engineered Stone: From Manufacturing and Fabrication to In-Home Maintenance and Residential Exposure

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background: Widely used for kitchen countertops in South Korea, engineered stone (ES) contains over 90% crystalline silica. While its aesthetic and functional benefits are celebrated, the associated health risks of respirable crystalline silica (RCS)—a Group 1 carcinogen—often go unnoticed in the domestic residential sector.
Objectives: This study highlights the overlooked RCS exposure risks across the engineered stone lifecycle, focusing on both occupational and residential vulnerabilities. It further urges the establishment of comprehensive safety protocols to protect both workers and the general public in South Korea.
Methods: This perspective article analyzes the RCS exposure risks across the entire lifecycle of ES, from industrial manufacturing to in-home maintenance, identifying critical blind spots in current occupational and environmental health management.
Results: Three high-risk groups were identified: (1) Factory workers exposed to high-concentrations of RCS during raw slab processing; (2) Installation and repair technicians performing dry-cutting and grinding in confined residential spaces without adequate HEPA-filtered extraction; and (3) Residents exposed to persistent residual dust on household surfaces. In contrast to the global trend, such as Australia’s total ban on ES, South Korea lacks comprehensive regulations for in-home services like polishing and coating.
Conclusions: Urgent regulatory reforms are required to prevent a public health crisis. These include mandating wet-processing and HEPA-extraction systems, establishing strict in-home safety protocols similar to asbestos management, and launching risk-communication campaigns to inform consumers of the hidden carcinogenic risks.