In recent weeks the media has focused on granite countertops and whether they can increase your indoor radon levels.
Studies repeatedly show granite countertops pose NO health risk. Repeated studies from respected scientists have come to the same conclusion: Radon emissions from granite countertops aren’t even close to posing a health risk. While it’s true that samples can vary and some samples can be more of a source of radiation than others, the highest emission rates ever reported in scientific literature result in concentrations that are hundreds or even thousands of times lower than the EPA’s guidelines.
All kitchen countertops create emissions. Virtually all countertop surfaces emit something, including chemicals, particles, radon and radation. If the concentrations were high, they each could pose a health risk. But the fact is that all these emissions are tiny and all are diluted into household air. And the air in the room exchanges with air from other rooms further diluting the emissions to where they pose no health risk to you or your family.
Radiation and radon are all around us. That’s a fact of life. Yes, it’s scary to watch someone on TV waving a Geiger counter over a granite countertop and hearing it click loudly. It’s scary, but it’s also meaningless. First, you cannot measure radon with a Geiger counter. And the EPA says radon measurements should be performed to test the overall air quality of an entire home or structure – not just one emission source.
Second, you may not realize that the same clicking happens if you point a Geiger counter at your smoke detectors, your television, your computer, a bowl of Brazil nuts or potatoes on your kitchen table. The thing to keep in mind is that radon, like radiation, is all around us. Half the background radiation an average American gets every year comes from radon, which comes from the earth. The rest comes from the sun, food, medicine and other products. But this only becomes a health risk if our exposure is concentrated and prolonged – and that’s the part of the story that’s been missing.
Maggie VanDerHeyden
Schumacher Tile & Stone
Source: Marble Institute of America
November 17th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
We had our granite countertop installed about 6 years ago and we don’t have any complaints. The recent news about possible radon does cause a little concern and the granite wasn’t cheap. If I was doing it over, I might consider other options. I ran across this site when looking for info on radon, pricing, and cleaning of granite. Good info for anyone who owns or is considering a granite countertop. http://www.bestkitchencountertops.com/granite-countertops/
November 18th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Thanks for the comment, Aaron! We’re glad to hear you’re happy with your countertops — it’s true, there are other attractive options on the market, depending on your particular needs. Each person should carefully consider before they decide on such an integral part of their kitchen.
Thank you for the link, that site looks like a good resource. We’re always looking for new friends and other informative websites!
Heidi
February 9th, 2009 at 1:31 am
We have a granite counter top. it is newly installed, so when the news hit me, i panicked a bit. Because the of my family food preparations take place on it. So it is a relief to know that it is not emit that much of radon. On the other road, i suggest that you should include what does the radon do to human health if taken in large amount.
April 15th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Radiation is everywhere, like you said in your post.
I also read somewhere, I can’t remember where, that when cooking if you have the range hood exhausting outside it will evacuate the radon. If you cook everyday the range hood will take care of any problem anyway. My opinion is that the danger is minimal.
I installed granite for my countertops and I have no regrets. I don’t even think about the possible Radon, because if were a real threat it wouldn’t be on the market.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Hello, again, Toby!
I think you’re probably right about the fan helping; according to the EPA’s radon site a fan is generally the best way to combat radon in your home, so it makes sense that having decent air circulation would go a long way towards fixing or avoiding that type of problem.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Granite is, quite literally, as old as the earth. It was formed from liquid magma, the molten rock still found at the core of the planet, which was pushed toward the surface to form a substance approaching the hardness and durability of diamond.it is the best building material to improve the home.
November 10th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Granite is the best thing happened to my kitchen
January 1st, 2010 at 1:16 am
Great Article! Thank you!
April 27th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Thanks for posting this information. A friend of mine was a little hesitant to use granite for his new kitchen because of the radon concern. I am definitely going to forward this to him, thanks for sharing!
October 1st, 2010 at 8:09 am
Granite can be customized and professionally installed, but it’s also useable in precut and edged countertops.