Radon Emissions From Granite Countertops

The radon scare has been an on and off hot subject of contention for some time.

Radon emissions from granite countertops.

Call 1 800 sos radon 767 7236 or purchase do it yourself home radon test kits at home store retail locations or online. Assuming a relatively tight house with an air change rate of 0 5 per hour h 1 and using average measured dose rates from granite countertop slabs the estimated radon concentration in kitchen air would be 4 8 becquerels per cubic meter bq m 3. To reduce the risk of lung cancer from exposure to radon epa recommends testing all homes for radon regardless of whether the home contains granite countertops. Not all the radiation coming from the granite that makes the clicking sound comes from radon producing radium.

However keep in mind that avoiding granite countertops does not mean you avoid radiation or radon gas emissions in your home. Homeowners with quartz countertops may or may not be aware of what radon is and how it can affect specific areas of a home but many new or older homes are often tested for it through a home inspector or individual home radon test kits to help alleviate the worries associated with it. There are currently no regulations concerning granite countertops radon gas or radiation emissions. You might even find it in the water.

Here are some frequently asked questions about radon and the risks associated with granite. This means they will almost always over respond when attempting to measure the radon emissions. So are granite countertops a real risk. Granite countertops and radon gas science and technical committee of the american association of radon scientists and technologists aarst august 4 2008 2 pages.

Radiation from granite countertops. People love granite countertops though some may worry that it will emit radon a colorless odorless radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of rocks and natural stones. Simple hand held geiger counters are not calibrated for measuring only the radon producing radium in granite. In july 2008 news articles appearing in the new york times and the houston chronicle cast light upon a household toxin.

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. Some granite countertops may emit radon. To find out if your granite or other stone countertops or anything else in the home is emitting radon gas you will need to call 1 800 sos radon 767 7236 to get your home tested.