Granite Countertops A Health Threat?

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Granite Countertops A Health Threat?

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CBS) If you have granite countertops in your home, you might consider

testing them for the amounts of radon gas they give off, experts say, due to

the

potential that those amounts are above levels considered safe.

 

But _marble manufacturers say flat-out_

(http://www.marble-institute.com/industryresources/granite_radoninfo.cfm)

that, " Radiation in granite is not

dangerous. "

 

Radon is " a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell

or taste, " the Environmental Protection Agency _explains on its Web site_

(http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html)

_http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html_

(http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html) . " Its presence

in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading

cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second-leading cause of

lung cancer in America, and claims about 20,000 lives annually. "

 

The popularity and demand for granite countertops has grown in the last

decade, as have the types of granite available.

 

The amount of radon in the air is measured in " picoCuries per liter of air, "

or " pCi/L, " and the EPA says 4 pCi/L is the level of radon exposure that

requires someone to take action. The agency also says levels lower than that

" still pose a risk " and " in many cases, may be reduced. "

 

According to The New York Times, 4 picocuries is " about the same risk for

cancer as smoking a half a pack of cigarettes per day. "

 

The newspaper _also reports that_

(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?ref=health)

_http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?_r=1 & ref=health & oref=sl\

ogin_

(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?_r=1 & ref=health & oref=sl\

ogin) , " Allegations that granite

countertops may emit dangerous levels of radon and radiation have been raised

periodically over the past decade, mostly by makers and distributors of

competing countertop 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.

 

Indeed, health physicists and radiation experts agree that most granite

countertops emit radiation and radon at extremely low levels. They say these

emissions are insignificant compared with so-called background radiation that is

constantly raining down from outer space or seeping up from the earth's crust,

not to mention emanating from manmade sources like X-rays, luminous watches

and smoke detectors.

 

But with increasing regularity in recent months, the Environmental

Protection Agency has been receiving calls from radon inspectors as well as

from

concerned homeowners about granite countertops with radiation measurements

several

times above background levels. "

 

On The Early Show

Friday, Stanley Liebert, quality assurance director at CMT Laboratories in

Clifton Park, N.Y. showed co-anchor Harry Smith a chunk of granite countertop

emitting 4.4 pCi/L and said, " The probability is we're looking at a problem

here, and the granite would actually be removed.

 

" In the lower levels, " Liebert said, " we can usually improve (radon levels)

by exchanging air " with systems that " bring fresh air in and exchange it with

the air in the kitchen. "

 

He says some granite countertop colors are more potentially troublesome than

others: " We're seeing higher results in reds, pinks, purples. However,

you've got to test them all. "

 

The only way to know about radon levels from your granite countertops, and

in your home in general, is to test for them, and the EPA says, " There are

many kinds of low-cost " do-it-yourself " radon test kits you can get through the

mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets. If you prefer, or if you

are buying or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the

testing for you. You should first contact your state radon office about

obtaining

a list of qualified testers. You can also contact a private radon

proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals

serving your

area. "

 

For more on radon in the home, go to the Web site of _Build Clean_

(http://buildclean.org/?id=249) .

 

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