Comments on: Granite Countertops A Health Threat?

Tests Show Some Emit Radon Levels That Could Cause Concern; Marble Makers Dismiss Fears

[cmca-2009]

%u2022 On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued statements that reaffirm that granite countertops pose no significant health risk. The statement says: %u201CWhile natural minerals such as granite may occasionally emit radon gas, the levels of radon attributable to such sources are not typically high. EPA believes the principal source of radon in homes is soil gas that is drawn indoors through a natural suction process. Granite is a natural mineral formed by earth''s geology. It is mined and used to produce commercial products such as countertops. It is possible for any granite sample to contain varying concentrations of uranium that can produce radon gas. Some granite used in countertops may contribute variably to indoor radon levels. However, EPA has no reliable data to conclude that types of granite used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels.%u201D

%u2022 The statements can be found at the EPA website, at http://iaq.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/iaq.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5103&p_created=1212758208&p_sid=Au1wNF9j&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0yMSwyMSZwX3Byb2RzPTM3MCZwX2NhdHM9JnBfcHY9MS4zNzAmcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

[huligar]

As for whether are not Stone adds a measurable amount of "radon" in a home, Mr. Gerhart had agreed to come to NY and pick out a hot slab that I would place in my own home after testing my home for radon. Once the granite was installed I would test my home again as described by the EPA and have it tested by someone approved by the EPA. Not only would we do the short and long term test, we would also video tape the whole event, the selection, the creation, the install, and than setting up cameras for anyone to view the stone and meters on the net. I was looking forward to do this, but at this time it appears that Mr. Gerhart has no plans on doing as he said which is a big disappointment."

The NSRA plans to push for this simple test, they feel that the consumers only care about one thing; "whether or not adding granite in your home would significantly change the radon levels in a home". At present, the most prudent consumer should watch the outcome of this debate and make an informed decision, not taken in by a scare tactic by advertisers.

[erasmus81]

"Guess I''''ll stick to the tried and true "cutting board" counter tops I have."

Posted by deacon20081 at 11:20 PM : Jul 25, 2008

"cutting board" counter tops = "formaldehyde":)

There''s just no way of getting away from all the toxic c-r-a-p. It''s in EVERYTHING.

[h5mind]

It would seem to follow that if granite was as dangerous as claimed, that those working in the industry would suffer from higher levels of cancer than the rest of the population. Also, this paranoia du jour about radon pales in comparison to a far more dangerous substance we welcome into our homes and bodies every day-- flouridated water. If you''re truly concerned about your familiy''s health why not check out flouridealert.org and come to your own conclusions?

[samsel3]

Family Safety Products manufactures the Pro-Series Radon Gas Meter. It is a small plug-in device that continuously monitors Radon levels. I''ve had these devices in both my houses for three years and they work well. My results were the same as the laboratory canister tests. The devices should be vacuumed monthly for best results. Decaying Radon sub-particles accumulate and have an afinity for glass.

We live in the Granite State. Our Radon background levels outside average 0.4 pc. We have air & water radon removal systems in our home. Before installing these systems, our levels were averaging 6 to 8. We also have continuous electronic monitoring devices for Radon. Our basement now averages 1.4 and our first floor living area averages 0.5 pc. EPA remediation is recommended for levels above 4.0. Radon is one of the" Silent Killers ". For the safety of you and your family lower is better.

[samsel3]

Were you referring to "diacetyl"?

Posted by juwboy at 06:45 AM : Jul 26, 2008

Got your attention, glad to see your still in action. How are you ?

[juwboy]

samsel3:

Every cell in your body contains hundreds of atoms of radioactive carbon-14 which decays by emitting subparticles.

What are the subparticles emitted by radon and how do they differ from the subparticles emitted by carbon-14?

"Acetyl" is an unstable, short-lived free radical. Were you referring to "diacetyl"?

[samsel3]

We are not talking about carbon 14. Radon and it''s accompanying sub-particles are known carcinogens.........Juwboy so glad to see your still at it. Had any Acetyl lately ? Just joking, hope your doing well............

[samsel3]

Family Safety Products manufactures the Pro-Series Radon Gas Meter. It is a small plug-in device that continuously monitors Radon levels. I''ve had these devices in both my houses for three years and they work well. My results were the same as the laboratory canister tests. The devices should be vacuumed monthly for best results. Decaying Radon sub-particles accumulate and have an afinity for glass.

[juwboy]

Every cell in every living organism contains hundreds of atoms of the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, so anyone claiming that no level of radioactivity is safe has to explain how bristlecone pines can live for 10,000 years.

[samsel3]

We live in the Granite State. Our Radon background levels outside average 0.4 pc. We have air & water radon removal systems in our home. Before installing these systems, our levels were averaging 6 to 8. We also have continuous electronic monitoring devices for Radon. Our basement now averages 1.4 and our first floor living area averages 0.5 pc. EPA remediation is recommended for levels above 4.0. Radon is one of the" Silent Killers ". For the safety of you and your family lower is better.

[grammawhamma]

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
~~~~~~~~~~~
And all this time they had us believing it was second hand smoke! Time to lift those smoking bans.

[tmittelstaed]

For the amounts of money that the granite countertop manufacturers charge, they can afford to test their incoming raw material every time that they receive a new shipment. If it tests out above 4 pCi/L then they can just send it back or designate it for outdoor use. I don''t see why the emphasis is on having the consumer test the product after it''s worked, bought & paid for. These countertops are not very practical in a kitchen, they are a vanity item, and cost accordingly, and due to cost alone they are never going to seriously challenge Formica countertops in the market in any case. A practical countertop is stainless steel, that is why all commercial kitchens use stainless. But who ever said that most Americans actually use their kitchen for cooking?

[h5mind]

For many years, solid surface manufacturers such as Corian and others claimed far higher bacteria levels on natural stone than their plastic ''faux stone''. When finally put to lab analysis, this claim ws proven false. Who was it who said, "All advertising is based on deception."?

[deacon20081]

Guess I''ll stick to the tried and true "cutting board" counter tops I have. sheesh
Aren''t the majority of the building in Washington covered with Granite? !!!!!!!!! That explains it! the politicians are "dain brameged"

[cfin5]

All right,.....Who''s trying to bankrupt another trade so they can scoop it up dirt cheap? This is ridiculous! It reminds me of when they said coffee was SO BAD for you, then stocks went way down, somebody buys it all up,.....THEN a "new" study comes out saying its good to clean out your arteries,....stocks go way up. Don''t you people see how individual family businesses get swallowed up by this kind of legal larceny?......Think back through the years and consider if it is not so.

lets face it ppl EVERYTHING is bad for us nowadays.

[nothappyatall]

"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."

oh of COURSE the competitors were the ones raising this "concern" LOL- the American way, when you cant compete with your CRAPPY inferior PLASTIC product you tear down the better one.
Newsflash: the EARTH is radioactive! rocks, dirt, stones, boulders, coal, water- all of it contains trace amounts of radioactive material and things that can KILL you. Sunlight can kill you, I''d worry a hel1 of a lot more about whats in FOOD and water along with particle board, formica, plastics, insulation foams, fiberglass insulation etc
Electric motors when running give off small amounts of ozone too.

This commentary is brought to you by the people who are selling sickness. Big Pharma is behind all this madness.

[jimfinster]

For you smokers, note that the combination of smoking and radon exposure causes higher lung cancer rates than either factor alone!