Here is the truth about granite countertops and radiation.
Marble have radon.
It is relieving to hear that the radioactive levels in granite and marble are too small to be of any concern but all construction materials in general emit a small amount of radon gas which is radioactive and can easily accumulate in poorly ventilated buildings.
Here is a link for several studies from all over the world.
Environmental protection agency epa and the american association of radon scientists and technologists aarst.
Radon is a colorless and odorless toxic gas linked to lung cancer.
When materials such as granite are mined from the earth they naturally contain these radioactive elements and may occasionally emit radon gas.
This has put some people off granite countertops.
Marble is dominantly calcium carbonate and is very depleted in uranium.
Granites from india and egypt have very low emanation rates and are by far the best in the world in this regard.
Seven days after the report the doctors show.
The uranium breaks down on exposure to air forming radon gas.
Over years of exposure radon can cause cancer the primary health concern with this gas.
The doctors show admits it erred in granite radon segment.
Radon can be found in soil rock air and even water.
To reduce the radon risk you should first test the air in your home to determine the radon level.
However some articles have circulated that claim granite is a source of harmful radiation specifically radon.
For some objective information on the subject check the latest recommendations from the u s.
While natural rocks such as granite may emit radiation and radon gas the levels attributable to such sources are not typically high.
There are many do it yourself radon test kits available through retail outlets and on line starting at about 25.
November 2013 thanks to quick and forceful action by the marble institute of america and its legal team the doctor s show has retracted a show segment in which it reported that living in a home with granite countertops could be as bad as smoking a half package of cigarettes a day.
Some granite samples and countertops have been tested and some have shown elevated levels of radon emissions.
If you have granite countertops and want to test them for radon place a short term home radon test kit near the granite and another kit in the basement or lowest usable level of the home.
If the levels of radon in the area containing the granite are higher than your indoor levels in another area of your home and the surface top test devices also return high results then it is possible that the granite is contributing to or is the source of your indoor radon levels.