Radon in countertops

To reduce the risk of lung cancer from exposure to radon , EPA recommends testing all homes for radon and mitigating high levels, regardless of whether the home contains granite countertops. Recent media attention has focused on granite counter tops and whether they can increase your indoor radon levels. While testing your home is always a good idea, a few clarifications are in order. Testing your granite countertops for radon is typically more expensive, requiring more sophisticated equipment and the expertise of a qualified radon mitigation expert, who still may not be able to indicate the percentage of indoor radon attributable to granite.

The reports were about granite countertops that contain radium, which can emit radon , a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. What about radon and radioactivity in granite countertops ? It is possible for any granite sample to contain varying concentrations of uranium and other naturally occurring radioactive elements. You’re more likely to get high levels of radon from the soil beneath your home than from your granite countertops , according to the EPA. With these countertops , no radon is released because the quartz has been permanently sealed.

Harry Smith discusses ways to test countertops with an expert in radiation testing. 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. Allegations that granite countertops may emit dangerous levels of radon and radiation have been raised periodically over the past decade, mostly by makers and distributors of competing countertop. Is there radon in granite countertops ? Does granite emit radon gas? The EPA says, “While natural minerals such as granite may occasionally emit radon gas, the levels of radon attributable to such sources are not typically high.

Actually, findings consistently show that granite poses no health risk in the home. The question about the presence of radon in granite countertops is not necessarily new. This article is intended to provide you with information about the issue of radon in granite. If you perform a radon test and the radon level is low, then the likelihood of there being a significant amount of radiation emanation from your countertops is extremely low.

My husband and I are replacing laminate kitchen countertops in the home we purchased. We need a material that does not emit VOCs or radon or have other scary stuff in it. We are overwhelmed by the pros and cons of the available materials.

Since radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, which has an extremely high mortality rate, that’s more than a little disconcerting. Because of its aesthetic appeal, granite is often a favorite material for countertops , floors and wall cladding. All types of granite contain various amounts of uranium, an element that produces radon gas.

Popular granite countertops may emit radon at dangerous levels. Recently, there have been several news stories regarding granite countertops potentially affecting radon levels in the home. With both granite and quartz countertops , we are concerned about two primary ways in which consumers can be exposed to radiation: by inhaling radon gas released when uranium and thorium decay and by exposure to gamma radiation emitted by natural radionuclides.

The concern about granite countertops leading to lung cancer came about because we know some of these natural surfaces can emit radon. The normal decay of uranium present in granite produces radon gas, but the amount of this gas can vary tremendously. With that being sai radon gas concentration levels are a concern within all homes primarily due to radon emissions from the soils beneath the home and to a possibly lesser degree from building materials (granite countertops ) within the home.

A Green Building client of ours is busy selecting interior finishes for their new healthy home. When we get to countertops the inevitable question is aske “Are there any health concerns about natural radioactive granite and quartzite? Many manufactured household materials, like granite countertops , emit small levels of radon. But you should keep the issue of radon and granite countertops in perspective.

But check your basement or lower level first. The best way to determine if your house has a radon problem, regardless of the source, is to test the air. Because radon is a gas, the health concern comes from inhaling air with radon gas. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.

Silestone - Since quartz comes from the earth, some radon gas may be present. But the Cosentino Corporation, makers of Silestone, say that Silestone has been tested and found to be low or free of radon gas. Radon has never been found in Corian. Granite is a naturally occurring stone, mined directly from the earth. This natural chemical surfaces from ground soil to the air and can enter your home through gaps in the pipes, cracks in the foundation and cavities inside the walls.

It is odorless, tasteless, and invisible. Some granite countertops may contain small amounts of radon. Granite countertop manufacturers refute that granite countertops are dangerous. As far as a radon scare with quartz countertops is concerne homeowners that already have quartz countertops , or are thinking about installing them, and are worried about the possibilities of radon penetration, should consider a professional inspection or use of a home radon testing kit to be assured of the safety of their countertops. More Info: Natural quartz is the fourth-hardest substance on our planet.

It can emit trace amounts of radon , much like any other natural stone product used in replacement countertops , tile or hardscape. Natural stone countertops are becoming popular in modern kitchens because they look pleasant. M ost formal radon testing has been done on raw granite block.

There have been few tests run on finished and sealed granite countertops , and in almost all formal tests on finished granite countertops there has been no discernable radon emissions.