Fight over Radon in Granite Countertops Heats Up
Please visit an updated post on radon in granite countertops here: A Rational Discussion on Radon in Granite Countertops
The Marble Institute of America better get ready for another round of fighting because the issue of radon in granite countertops is back. For the past decade, the MIA has been trying, with much success, to squash the rumor that granite countertops have the potential to add dangerous amounts of radon in the home. A new study being conducted by Houston area not-for-profit BuildClean is raising old fears about the dangers of granite countertops, and its preliminary results show that while most granite countertops in the study contain very little to no radon at all, the countertops that do contain radon have levels that are frighteningly high. While consumers can be secure in the fact that the vast majority of granite is perfectly safe, a small percentage is still in question, and no independent scientific study exists to assuage consumer fears.
The first issue of Solid Surface in 1995 explored the possibility that granite countertops may pose a health risk. Soon, the MIA issued their response, which attacked the credibility of the science involved in the study as well as the fact that the advertisers in the journal included companies that competed with granite countertop manufacturers. But one phrase in the response, a highlighted phrase no less, is troubling: “…actual levels of radon gas emmissions are so low as to be insignificant and generally represent no threat.” As a father, I don’t want to be assured that there is “generally” no threat to my family. I want to know there is no threat. And after BuildClean* found that 3 of 95 granite countertops contained harmful amounts of radon, would the MIA consider such a small number to be “generally” no threat? I’m sure the owners of those three countertops are not reassured.
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(*Correction: BuildClean did not find that 3 of 95 countertops contained harmful amounts of radon. Rather, the results are from a study by Dr. William Llope, a Rice University Physicist, who is not associated with either BuildClean or the MIA. His comments can be found on the third page of comments below.)
Look around for information on radon in granite and you will find many sites telling you the “truth” or uncovering “myths” about radon. Since many of the statistics cited are the same, it’s clear that much of the information comes from the MIA response linked above or from an updated (though with the same references) MIA PDF. My personal favorite was a site titled “Ask an Expert - 9 Myths about Granite” where they claim that “No one today takes credit for starting the rumor, and certainly no one supports it.” No one? They then make the claim that granite actually has healing properties. Most troubling is the fact that, as experts, they don’t seem to know that “lose” is spelled with only one “o.” The most common argument you’ll find, that radon occurs naturally, really needs to be taken out of their playbook. Just because it’s on the periodic table of the elements doesn’t mean I want it in my house. I’m talking to you, Californium.
In late 2007, the MIA scuffled with Home Safety Systems, which sells radon detectors. Like the fight over the original journal article, this seems to be another example of competing companies arguing science, which doesn’t sit right with me. The current BuildClean study is funded in part by Silestone and Cambria, two competitors of granite countertops. (Ironically, Silestone is a sponsor of the “Ask the Experts” article above - their logo is at the bottom of the page.)
So how do we start trusting that granite is safe? An independent study done by the EPA would be a good start. Leave corporate interests out of it. And don’t give us general findings - tell us exactly what was found. Since radon is found naturally in some parts of the earth, the MIA needs to admit that there is a possibility that some granite will contain radon, and then show how they are making sure such slabs do not make their way into our homes. Are granite countertops screened for radon before reaching the consumer? (Maybe the folks over at Home Safety Systems can help the MIA out with that.) Otherwise, without solid assurances, it won’t be long until consumers reject granite outright.
For information on green alternatives to granite, try Green Counter Culture.
Before commenting, please visit our updated post on radon in granite countertops here: A Rational Discussion on Radon in Granite Countertops
This issue won’t go away by discounting the opposition. It will only go away by reassuring the public. I’m not sure if you are aware but the article you linked to is not from the EPA but from a Natural Stone website, and in fact the EPA has said that 85% of granite is perfectly safe, which isn’t very reassuring.
The MIA has recently announced that they are assembling a panel of scientists to develop a protocol for testing granite countertops for radioactivity. I, and many others, applaud them for taking this step.
We offer on site testing for Seattle,WA area. Pacific Northwest Inspections Group,LLC
Please use our online form for info.
Thanks
It seems that one with negative feedback was the Innovative/Stonemar granite. Is this granite tested before it is installed in homes??? What do you know about their Canelle????
It is Innovative/Stonemark Essential Collection color Canelle class 3.
We look at this controversy as another ploy by quartz manufacturers (Cambria and Silestone)to utilize the “all powerful media”, to persuade consumers through fear or any other available means to purchase quartz for countertops.
one would have to wonder if they have considered that once they put granite fabricators out of business, it may be tough to get their quartz tops made. Last I heard, the raw materials found in engineered stone are quartz (granite), silica and an oil based resin. One wonders, if these tops also pose radon risks?
Radon is in the ground and all around us. If you have well water, it may very well contain radon. Radon is also known to dissapate very quickly in a well ventilated space. So, I think the key is to use common sense. There may be very few granite types that emit detectable levels. We need to define them and simply not have them available, thereby eliminating the risk.
It is so easy to jump on the hysteria band wagon without verified information. Big Business and Politics….dirty business.
Anyone with half a brain can SO easily see that the current radon/uranium-from-granite “scare” is exactly that. Simply a scare tactic promulgated by competing countertop manufacturers out to snag more market-share from the Natural Stone industry. These manufacturers funded the “not-for-profit” BuildClean group. Follow the money. They’d call it a ‘business technique’, causing needless concern, then supplying the solution (THEIR product, which is called Engineered Stone or Quartz surfaces. Or their own “safe” granite lines…. which are different than existing granite lines HOW? Not by any actual scientific testing-methods, but rather by junk-science that shows oly their desired results.) This may be an acceptable business tactic in other countries, but I personally feel that its despicable to raise alarmist (yes, ALARMIST) worrying in order to push your own product. How about a summary of all the petrochemical energy consumption (with corresponding air-emissions), synthetic chemical substances, additives, stabilizers, etc that go into the manufacture of BuildClean’s sponsors’ products???
If you have granite countertops in your home, you have a LOT more to worry about as a health-risk by crossing the street, driving a car, or drinking city water than your granite. Thank the American Media for yet another round of super-hyped needless concern.
EPA should have told consumers about this risk. We import granite w/radon and some very high levels. We are retired, living in our home for over 30 years, now 5 months ago purchased granite countertop in kitchen (crema bordeaux). I researched for two years and knew nothing about radon UNTIL about 2 weeks ago. What a travesty, the US really cares about their citizens. Will have checked by expert - probably will have to have removed. There are enough problems in the environment - now we import them into our country.
Before you folks go off worried that you’ve just spent thousands of dollars to give yourself cancer, please read the following forum thread, paying particular attention to posts by a gentleman by the name of Caoimhín P. Connell. He’s a professional that deals with these kinds of problems and he’s done a good job of putting all that scientific mumbo jumbo into understandable language. He also explains that while there IS a grain of truth to this, it’s mostly hogwash.
http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/building-interior-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/7515-stone-countertops-radon.html
You mean a study from the EPA like this :
“Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, your house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Radon may also be present in well water and can be released into the air in your home when water is used for showering and other household uses. In most cases, radon entering the home through water is a small risk compared with radon entering your home from the soil. 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.”
http://www.epa.gov/radon/
Way to go chicken little.
Thank you for your comment, Steve. The intention of this thread was to provide a middle viewpoint between the alarmists and the deniers with the goal of holding a rational debate about this potential health risk. Thank you for the quote. Though it’s not from the EPA, it does concede that granite is a potential source, though small, of radon in houses. What needs to be determined is what percentage of granite contains radon or radiation. Is it 3%, as Dr. Llope’s initial findings suggest? I know he would be uncomfortable projecting statistics based on those findings, so for argument’s sake let’s say the danger is 1%. Sounds insignificant, right? How many houses in the country contain granite? One percent of a million homes is ten thousand. Now one percent doesn’t seem so small. Though the radon risks can be mitigated through increased ventilation, radiation cannot.
The sky’s not falling - just a very small percentage of it. If it was the sky right over your head, wouldn’t you want to be warned?