Is Granite Radon Dangerous

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.

Is granite radon dangerous.

I deal with these half truths and the misinformation about granite and marble every week much of it comes from those companies that compete with the natural stone market. The us epa recommends taking corrective measures for radon levels at or above 4 pci l the us epa encourages you to consider reducing your radon levels for readings between 2 and 4. This is not the only method for measuring the amount of radon coming from the granite but it is the most economical. Granite is very popular as material for buildings and homes especially as kitchen countertops because of their beauty durability and function.

Here are the facts about granite countertops along with the myths and rumors. Other building materials may emit radon such as soapstone brick or concrete but as with granite these materials are unlikely to increase radon levels in the home to levels above those already present in nature. Radon is a cancer causing natural radioactive gas that you can t see smell or taste the environmental. This is a colorless gas that comes from decaying uranium.

But marble manufacturers say flat out that radiation in granite is not dangerous. In fact in a recent study by consumer reports none of the granite samples tested were found to emit any radon at all. Can your granite or quartz worktop kill you. While radon gas and radiation emission levels attributable to granite are not typically high there are simply too many variables to generalize about the emissions from granite countertops.

Granite countertops source of dangerous radon emissions by lucy campbell radon the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking may be leaking from your countertops if you have granite. Some granite countertops have dangerously high emissions of radiation particularly radon gas. So are your granite worktops dangerous. While radon gas and radiation emission levels attributable to granite are not typically high there are simply too many variables to generalize about the potential health risks inside a particular home that has granite countertops.

Is it true radon from granite countertops can make you sick. Are the levels of radon gas and radiation emissions from granite countertops dangerous to humans or animals.