Doctors are warning that cases of silicosis among young kitchen workers are likely to rise without urgent screening measures, as exposure to silica dust from engineered stone worktops continues to pose serious health risks. Specialists at Royal Brompton Hospital report increasing numbers of patients, many in their twenties and thirties, with some cases initially misdiagnosed as other lung conditions. Early symptoms often go unnoticed due to limited awareness and lack of routine checks, especially for workers without access to occupational health services. Medical professionals and industry bodies are calling for a national screening programme and stronger workplace protections, similar to initiatives in Australia, where widespread testing revealed the scale of the problem. Without early detection and prevention, the disease can progress rapidly, leading to severe illness or death among affected workers.