There are currently no regulations concerning granite countertops radon gas or radiation emissions.
Marble countertops radon.
People love granite countertops though some may worry that it will emit radon a colorless odorless radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of rocks and natural stones.
Some granite countertops have been found to give off trace amounts of radon and reporters cited a few kitchens with radon levels as high as 25 times the epa s safety limit of 4 picocuries per liter of.
We recommend picking up a home testing kit for about 25.
Limestone soapstone and marble countertops do not pose a radon concern according to kitto.
November 2013 thanks to quick and forceful action by the marble institute of america and its legal team the doctor s show has retracted a show segment in which it reported that living in a home with granite countertops could be as bad as smoking a half package of cigarettes a day.
The reports were about granite countertops that contain radium which can emit radon a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer.
While testing your home is always a good idea a few clarifications are in order.
It is relieving to hear that the radioactive levels in granite and marble are too small to be of any concern but all construction materials in general emit a small amount of radon gas which is radioactive and can easily accumulate in poorly ventilated buildings.
So are granite countertops a real risk.
If you see high levels of radon present call in a specialist.
Testing the air in your home for radon.
Here are some frequently asked questions about radon and the risks associated with granite.
To read more on this topic check out.
Seven days after the report the doctors show.
Recent media attention has focused on granite counter tops and whether they can increase your indoor radon levels.
Inhaling the accumulated radon could give rise to small degree of radiation.
The doctors show admits it erred in granite radon segment.
Granite countertops and radon gas science and technical committee of the american association of radon scientists and technologists aarst august 4 2008 2 pages.
At issue is whether some granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radiation especially the gas radon which is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
The epa has not conducted studies on radon in countertops and has no plans to do so at this time.
If you have any questions about radon and your granite countertops don t hesitate to call us.