By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Do Granite Countertops Emit Radon?
By Keith Pandolfi. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. Thanks for signing up! Check your inbox for a welcome email. Email required. Final analysis: Information available at the present indicates that radon levels associated with granite countertops in homes are low in comparison to background levels. To see the complete study, click here.
August — Want to know where radon comes from? Take a look at this graphic. But, as the chart indicates, almost 70 percent of radon results from soil around the house, and just 2.
The bottom line: the tiny amount of radon which might emit from a kitchen countertop has virtually no impact on the total contribution to indoor air. July — If you have any fear of radon in your home, a simple test can be conducted. Testing is inexpensive and easy, requiring just a few minutes of your time.
In fact, millions of homeowners do it every year. Environmental Protection Agency. November — Radon Exposures in a Granite Quarry Findings: Based on the review of available data and radon measurements, occupational exposures and health risks related to radon for granite quarry workers are insignificant, i.
December — Predicted Indoor Radon Concentrations from a Monte Carlo Simulation of 1,, Granite Countertop Purchases Findings: Statistical analysis of 1 million countertop purchases shows granite safe for use in homes. January — Radon Exhalation from Building Materials for Decorative Use Findings: A study by Health Canada of 33 types of commonly purchased granite found no significant levels of radon.
November — Assessing Exposure to Radon From Granite Countertops Findings: Researchers assess hundreds of types of granite and find no risk of radon or radiation exposure. Some granite releases trace amounts of radon, the radioactive gas.
Common items such as concrete blocks, televisions, smoke detectors — and even Brazil nuts, bananas and potatoes release measureable levels of radiation. The fact is, radiation and radon levels from other sources in the home are far more significant than what may be measured from a granite countertops.
Consumer and industry safety are paramount issues for the stone industry, and numerous studies have been conducted to verify the safety of granite in the home. Peter Snyder, Jr. In short, the ability or inability to harbor bacteria, per Dr. Snyder's studies, is the same for both products. Thorium is a shorter-lived element, which is similar to radon but decays about 6, times faster than radon. Thoron has a half-life of about 51 seconds, whereas Radon has a half-life of just over 92 hours.
The bottom line. Gamma measurements made with simple hand-held meters alone CANNOT tell you how much radon is being produced by your natural stone materials. These simple meters grossly over-respond to the actual radiation coming from the stone surface. Test reports for radon emanation tests i. The Air Chek surface tests are collected for a specific amount of time i. This is not the only method for measuring the amount of radon coming from the granite, but it is the most economical.
Granite and Radon Granite and Radon Information. Granite and Radon Recent media attention has focused on granite counter tops and whether they can increase your indoor radon levels.
What should I do? Why Geiger Counters will not accurately measure radon Most web videos and TV demonstrations measure the granite counter top using a Geiger Counter.
These simple audible devices are being used for dramatic effect and are misleading in two principle ways: Simple hand-held Geiger Counters are not calibrated for measuring ONLY the radon-producing Radium in granite.
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