The Truth About Granite: Is It Safe?

Rumors are flying about the safety of granite countertops. We’ll help you
separate fact from fiction.

Story by Amy Stalp
Photo by Jeff Scroggins

If you’ve heard the rumors about granite countertops giving off dangerous amounts of radon, you’re not alone. If you’re feeling concerned, read on to understand the rumors, the facts and what you can do to keep your home safe.

THE RUMORS
Recent media reports have suggested that granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radon, a radioactive gas known to cause lung cancer. The two most notable reports are an article that appeared in the July 24, 2008, New York Times titled, “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” and a report that appeared on The Today Show on September 4, 2008, titled “Today’s Home Alert: Are Granite Countertops Dangerous?” These reports featured homeowners whose granite countertops were tested and found to contain dangerously high levels of radon. One of the homeowners had her countertops removed the very same day. Needless to say, these reports have instilled a sense of fear and confusion in homeowners who already have granite countertops or are planning to have them installed.

THE FACTS
There are no definitive studies about the levels of radon being emitted from granite countertops. Why? Because every granite countertop is different and not all testing methods are created equal.

It is true that granite does emit radon, but other household items do too. In fact, naturally occurring radiation is present in the environment and we are all exposed to it every day. According to the “Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction” published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “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.”

It’s also important to consider your home’s ventilation, which influences the levels of radon present in indoor air. As ventilation increases, concentrations of radon decrease.

A report titled “Granite and Radon” by Air Chek offers this comparison: “Imagine turning on a burner on your stovetop. The burner emits heat, but has little to no effect on the overall temperature of your house. Similarly, if your countertop emits a small amount of radon, it will generally be insignificant when diluted with the quantity of air in your entire home.”

GETTING TESTED
If you’re concerned about the level of radon in your home, get tested (and be sure to follow EPA standards, epa.gov). Because radon is diluted by air, testing the air in your home is the best method, as opposed to testing the granite surface in question. Several testing options are available:
•    Get a low-cost, do-it-yourself kit (available in hardware and other retail stores or online at sites like radon.com).
•    Hire a qualified tester (contact your state’s radon office for a list of qualified testers in your area).
•    Contact a private radon proficiency program for lists of privately certified radon professionals in your area (epa.gov/radon/radontest.html).

Have your test results? The EPA recommends taking action if your home has a radon level of 4pCi/L (4 picocuries per liter of air) or more.

THE BOTTOM LINE
In a letter to The New York Times editor in response to the story, “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop,” Richard Toohey, Ph.D., CHP, a radiation specialist with more than 35 years of experience and the president of the Health Physics Society (HPS), a scientific and professional organization whose members specialize in occupational and environmental radiation safety, deemed the testing method used in the article false and warned against overreacting to one measurement based on one type of granite.

“No action needs to be taken to remove granite countertops in existing homes,” he said. “For those who are concerned, valid radon concentration monitoring should be conducted in the living areas of the home. Radon measurement devices should be placed where they measure the ambient air of the room. If the granite countertop is believed to be a cause for concern, some action might be considered. However, it would be more effective in terms of risk reduction to take steps to mitigate radon concentrations throughout the home. The cost of such mitigation would likely be less than 10 percent of the cost of replacing kitchen countertops and would very likely result in a much greater overall risk reduction.”

SOURCES
Air Chek, “Granite and Radon,” 2008 (radon.com/radon/granite.html)
American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), “Position Statement: Granite Countertops and Radon Gas,” 8/4/08
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction,” last updated 8/4/08
Marble Institute of America, “Granite Countertops and Your Family’s Safety,” 8/4/08
Environmental Health & Engineering, “Natural Stone Countertops and Radon,” 9/3/08
The New York Times, “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” 7/24/08
The Today Show, NBC, “Today’s Home Alert: Are Granite Countertops Dangerous?” 9/4/08
Toohey, Richard, Health Physics Society, Letter to the Editor of The New York Times, 8/1/08