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
“Man has lived with igneous rock, Granite, since the dawn of age”.
And man has lived with cancer since the dawn of age as well, at least those the lived long enough.
I can’t fault your representation of quartz except to say that the resin content can hit 35%. Two other things, some granites are also affected by sunlight as well. We have a black top in our showroom showing UV fade already. The MIA’s consumer care and cleaning pages say not to put hot pots on granite either, fast expansion or contraction can and has cause granite tops to break. Doing a simple google search on the issue will prove it.
Best keep looking for info on this topic rather than believe the stone industry. Way too much money at risk, plus the have sucessfully covered this up for the past 14 years. They can’t tell the truth, so they keep digging the hole deeper.
If this was a non issue, neither the CRCPD (state radiation officials) nor AARST (Radon scientists) would have set committees to work setting measurement protocols and maximum allowed levels for granite slabs.
On the radon issue, we have a full scale radon test going currently, over 10 pCi/L average levelsso far from only 18 square feet of granite in a 96 square foot room. That is like smoking 1 1/2 packs a day.
There have been hourly Radon peaks over 23 pCi/L, like smoking almost 3 packs a day.
http://forum.solidsurfacealliance.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=98ST
Please do the scientific research before writing articles that may scare people unnecessarily. Many people probably do not even know what radiation actually is, let alone how it effects the human body. While I sympathize with the concern for your family’s health, I think that it is wise to examine the context of the potential threat before raising a red flag.
Many things are radioactive- many natural stones and minerals contain elements that are radioactive (including cement and certain ceramics), smoke detectors contain material that are beta and alpha emitters, even certain gemstones frequently give off low levels of radiation. Common household and commercial fertilizers contain potassium and are radioactive, and produce grown in them is also radioactive.
To cause public distress about the emission of a natural occurring stone seems a bit silly when compared to the numerous health hazards that have become the building blocks of the American way of life. The electromagnetic fields produced by the wires in our houses, the microwaves from our appliances, the radio waves from our cell phones, the synthetic fat in our processed food, the chemicals in our prescriptions, the dust mites and mold spores in our homes.
One of the downsides of the internet revolution is the widespread belief that knowledge is easily attainable. For some things this is true, yet for other subjects, such as radiation and health, a true understanding requires more commitment then typing a few words into Google and scanning a few web pages. I understand the concern here, but it is important to take into account the context of the information at hand. Not to do so is both irresponsible and unscientific.
Saddened,
The BEIR reports, put out by the National Academies, funded by the U.S. government to advise them on science, soundly supports LNT (Linear No Threshold)theory in which a single radioactive track across a single cell can cause DNA damage or cancer. The rest of the world’s reputable scientific organizations support this view. Face it, radiation isn’t chocolate, it is dangerous and carries a risk at any levels.
For you to claim that this author didn’t do his research is in itself irresponsible and to reject the consensus of the vast majority of scienctists is in itself unscientific.
Bringing up low level, near background radiation is simply confusing the issues. We are concerned about radiation levels dozens, even hundreds of times background levels.
I don’t understand why you would attempt to muddy the waters, don’t understand how you will profit from this, but that in itself is “sad”. No one is against nuclear power here, nor dealing with nuclear waste, we just don’t think it is a good idea to put granite countertops in a home if they are at or near nuclear fuel source grade levels.
How in the world can you argue with that?
Hi-
I want to buy granite countertops. is there a way to test the specific pieces before I buy them?
Thanks for all your work.Karl
Hi Karl,
It is possible to test for radiation, quite easily. A geiger counter that reads down to around 10 uR/hr will do, or a gamma scintillator will do nicely. Some large cities have scientific instrument rental places or you can find a private tester to do the testing.
Radon is more difficult to identifiy as the entire slab has to be checked out with a radon detector. Unlike the radiation where you can slide a meter across the stone and have an immediate reading, radon tests take at least 24 hours and every single square foot has to be checked, or the entire slab has to be enclosed in a radon room to determine how much radon is coming out.
Once we thought that low radiation meant low radon, but scientists are finding serious levels from low radiation stones, from 26 to 7 uR/hr radiation levels. Slowly more and more stone is being tested, and some stones are being given low chances of being a problem, but it is impossible to rule out a slab till it is checked.
On the toxic heavy metal content of granite, a quick reading with an XRF machine will tell you what heavy metals are present and in what quanity. Test all the major colors in the slab, especially those grey metal flecks present in some granite slabs.
An Industrial Hygienist in Califronia found one Bordeaux granite countertop that had 10,260 ppm of Thallium present. Most heavy metal content in consumer products is capped at 100 ppm, this granite countertop (it was removed from a home last year due to elevated radiation levels) had 1,000 times safe levels. Below is a link to our site with more info on this Bordeaux sample and info on the toxicity of the heavy metals found in granites.
http://forum.solidsurfacealliance.org/download/file.php?id=375&mode=view
I work for a large retailer and sell granite counter tops on a daily basis. Thousands of dollars are spent at my recommendation on consumers homes. I cannot understand with all the equipment and technology….not to mention money made from the sale of granite…someone canot put granite to the test, and fix this controversy once and for all. Sheesh! Figure it out already.
All this is very interesting. I have read that the funding for all of this research on radon was originated by Silestone and Cambria, the makers of the fake/immitation granite countertops. It makes you wonder what their motivation really is… regardless, it is good for everyone to know what the truth is. From my research so far on this topic, I have found that there are literally over 900 types of granites being sold today. The radon problems have only been slightly elevated in 1 or 2 types of granite (and that is questionable). Regardless, it would be nice for everyone to know which types pose problems so the government can take action on those specific stones and stop scaring everyone on the rest of the natural products on the market.