The rencent NY time reports that, “Allegations that granite counter tops may emit dangerous levels of radon and radiation have been raised periodically over the past decade, mostly by makers and distributors of competing counter top materials.

The Marble Institute of America has said such claims are “ludicrous” because although granite is known to contain uranium and other radioactive materials like thorium and potassium, the amounts in countertops are not enough to pose a health threat. “

The Silicon Vally Chris form the Holmes & Watson Inspection answered some of questions about the possible dangers of radon emitted from the granite counter tops. He said: “Granites often contain trace amounts of material that can produce measurable amounts of radon gas but the key word is “measurable”. As an illustration, imagine turning on a burner on your stovetop. The burner emits heat, but has little to no effect on the overall temperature of your house. Similarly, if your countertop emits a small amount of radon, it will generally be insignificant when diluted with the air in your entire home. There are hundreds of times more likely to be at risk for radon emanating from the soil beneath your home. The US EPA states it in the Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction: “In a small number of homes, the building materials (e.g., granite and certain concrete products) can give off radon, although building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. In the United States, radon gas in soils is the principal source of elevated radon levels in homes.”

Indeed, health physicists and radiation experts agree that most granite counter tops emit radiation and radon at extremely low levels. Chris recommended airing out the house a couple of times a week. The concerned homeowners can buy an inexpensive test kit at their local hardware store to test the granite counter top. If you need more reading material you can find the book of “What is home buyer should know about radon?” from EPA. The photo is credited to cbsnews.com