So people kind of knew asbestos was harmful wayyy before it mostly stopped being used in 1979 (USA). But, it was still used constantly in many industries and ended up everywhere. What do you think is an example of something we find out is DRASTICALLY harmful 10-50 years from now? My guess would be screen time.
Look at the silicosis litigation that has started. Everyone wanted granite and quartz countertops, 30 years later, people cutting all that now have lung disease
Seems like the lungs are way more fragile than we would like to admit.
That’s one way to look at it, I’d say they are pretty robust seeing how we abuse them, and how long they’ll last in conditions they didn’t evolve in.
Not to mention the use of fine silica in things like abrasives and friction braking compounds.
I do workplace safety, and it’s incredibly hard to work with (manufactured) stone in a safe way. The dust gets everywhere, and you basically have to take the same safety precautions as with asbestos remediation.