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.



