Are Granite Countertops Radioactive
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.
Are granite countertops radioactive. The question is whether they do so at levels that can impact cancer risk. The surprise is that in the new york times article what s lurking in your countertop murphy 2008 a radon. The amount of radiation emitted from granite can vary depending on the natural uranium and or thorium concentration. It isn t a surprise that granite emits radiation.
Allegations those granite countertops may produce dangerous levels of radon and radiation has been raised periodically over the past decade mostly by makers and distributors of competing countertop resources. Granite like any other stone may contain veins of naturally occurring radioactive elements like uranium thorium and their radioactive decay products. Radioactive minerals in the granite can decay into radon a colorless odorless radioactive gas which may be released from the surface of the granite over. New information about probable hazards of granite and stone countertops recent articles told countertops of granite emit unacceptable levels of radiation.
Granite is not likely to cause anyone harm or significantly contribute to a home s radon levels. So do other items in our households. At this time however epa does not believe. Radon gas is released from the granite stone during its entire lifetime.
If present uranium thorium or radium will decay into radon a colorless odorless radioactive gas that may cause lung cancer. While granite and other decorative stone can contain some trace natural radioactivity granite countertops are not considered to be a key contributor to radiation in the average home. The story here appears to be that some granite countertops have been found to emit high levels of radon a strongly carcinogenic natural radioactive element. Yes granite can be slightly radioactive but the real question is whether it is radioactive enough to pose a danger.
So are granite countertops a real risk. Experts agree that most granite countertops emit some radon and even other types of radiation. Naturally occurring radioactive elements found in granite stone may emit amounts of gamma and beta radiation in small amounts. These trace concentrations may vary from stone to stone or even within a single slab of granite.
Radon is an odorless colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium that seeps out of the earth more commonly in some places on the planet than others. The answer to that question is no it is not dangerous.