Granite Countertops A Health Threat?

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

(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 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. "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, "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.

[hober_mallow]

Great, just great.

I just completed a supreme struggle to sell my old house and move into a new one.

My new house has, guess what, granite countertops !!!

Aarrgghhhh !!!!

[slim1h2o]

Just pull the covers over your head and it will be ok.

Oh, and BTW, if you get cancer, just remember, it''s your fault, so expect no compassion from your fellow man.

[nirak2-2009]

You also might cross the street and get killed Hober_Mallow
Enjoy your new counter top!

[davvictor]

Oh-Brother, one more scam and hype story. Next thing you''ll see is legislation requiring radon tests in your kitchen!

[xmanborg]

OH MY GOD.

Granite Countertops & Radon Gas.

I am going to go live in a Sandstone or Limestone CAVE.

[xmanborg]

I bet a Granite Counter top in your kitchen releases at least 1000 tons of Radon gas per hour directly into your home.

The Bush Administration needs to Regulate Radon Gas and put a tax on it and declare it as another gas that causes Global Warming.

[sistatee-2009]

I bet a Granite Counter top in your kitchen releases at least 1000 tons of Radon gas per hour directly into your home.
Posted by XmanBorg at 02:37 PM : Jul 25, 2008

Not to mention the gamma rays, that can turn your bones to powder!

[jimfinster]

I stopped believing all of these cancer threats when they (the establishment) said eating hamburgers could cause cancer...

Posted by ozilot


Denial is one way of dealing with it :)

[sdqueen2000]

Definitively GW Bush fault!!
Surely McCain has something to do with it too!
IMPEACH!! IMPEACH!!
God Hail Obama our savior!!!!!

[sjw1253]

I am curious as to whether CMT Laboratories has any financial interests in Radon testing?

I would really like to see full disclosure on any report that comes out as to any conflict of interest that the party reporting the story may have.

If the CMT lab is an independent lab that has no financial interests in the increases in radon testing - then I will feel more comfortable with this report.

The biggest problem with these reports is that there are so many with conflicts of interest - such as the marble companies who defend the granite countertops and of course the synthetic companies who may bring these concerns. Additionally, we have to worry about people doing the tests as this could also increase their business.

We as consumers do need to be aware of the data and to be able to discern any ulterior motives for presenting the information.

[txgrouch2006]

ozilot wrote
I stopped believing all of these cancer threats when they (the establishment) said eating hamburgers could cause cancer...
------------------
I felt the same way when they said milk causes cancer.

If you can''t even drink milk anymore, it seems like EVERYTHING causes cancer. So what can we do?

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY! For no man can delay his dying day, so better to live until you die than to die without ever having lived.

[irliberal]

What about goverment buildings and courthouses across the USA that are - quite literally - covered in marble?

You''d think that would be a bigger issue.

Truth is, this article is the result of a reporter looking to meet a quota for a story.

Shame, CBS.

[nirak2-2009]

Watch for the first law suit being filed by a neighbor for getting the fumes into her house from next door.

[feedback3-2009]

I bet a Granite Counter top in your kitchen releases at least 1000 tons of Radon gas per hour directly into your home.
Posted by XmanBorg at 02:37 PM : Jul 25, 2008

Not to mention the gamma rays, that can turn your bones to powder!
-----------
You also should not drop one on your head.

[wogerwabbit]

Life causes cancer. Death is the cure.

[tomanlo]

I put my bowling ball on my granite countertop so I could polish it. The darned thing rolled off and landed on my foot breaking 3 toes. I demand a warning label on granite countertops stating it is unsafe to put bowling balls on granite countertops.

[kylerkeith]

The address listed on Build Clean''s website doesn''t even exist. Nice investigative journalism CBS. Who did the research, DAN RATHER??

[jcr103]

Kind of ironic. For once it''s the rich who are confronted with a environmental threat rather than the poor.

[shmowry1]

Hmm, so what about Yosemite? You know that valley that''s just a big granite tub? So are we slowly being poisoned by it? Didn''t think so.

[alphaa10-2009]

IRLiberal asked, "What about goverment buildings and courthouses across the USA that are - quite literally - covered in marble? You''d think that would be a bigger issue. Truth is, this article is the result of a reporter looking to meet a quota for a story..."
---

The radon issue is about "granite", one of the strongest natural sources of radon.

Compared to granite, marble is not on the radar, even if both are used primarily on building exteriors.

Nor is marble used much indoors-- where the threat comes from accumulated radon gas.

The slow news day is yours. Speed it up by checking the web about radon sources. All rocks emit some radiation, but the issue is about unreasonable and preventable threats to health and safety.

[georgew1956]

they have to get peoples attention somehow obama is killing the pubs with his world tour.

[janinediluzi]

I own a Custom Marble and Granite company, and this is insane. Here is some information that is provided to us to give to our customers. I hope you people don''t listen to the lies. CBS should do a story on this!!

Solid Surface, The Journal of the Solid Surface Industry (Volume 1 Number 1) that was published several weeks ago, included an article entitled "Granite & Radon". The introduction to the article stated "Scientific research poses disturbing questions about the safety of granite countertops" and copies of this article have circulated around the stone industry raising questions about radon gas emissions from granite countertops. The key

[janinediluzi]

I own a Custom Marble and Granite company, and this is insane. Here is some information that is provided to us to give to our customers. I hope you people don''t listen to the lies. CBS should do a story on this!!

Solid Surface, The Journal of the Solid Surface Industry (Volume 1 Number 1) that was published several weeks ago, included an article entitled "Granite & Radon". The introduction to the article stated "Scientific research poses disturbing questions about the safety of granite countertops" and copies of this article have circulated around the stone industry raising questions about radon gas emissions from granite countertops. The key

[janinediluzi]

I own a Custom Marble and Granite company, and this is insane. Here is some information that is provided to us to give to our customers. I hope you people don''t listen to the lies. CBS should do a story on this!!

Solid Surface, The Journal of the Solid Surface Industry (Volume 1 Number 1) that was published several weeks ago, included an article entitled "Granite & Radon". The introduction to the article stated "Scientific research poses disturbing questions about the safety of granite countertops" and copies of this article have circulated around the stone industry raising questions about radon gas emissions from granite countertops. The key

[jackie0428]

I''m in favor of covering Nancy and SgtRDS and McVet with 50 tons of granite, just to see if it makes any difference in how annoying they are.

[libsluv2spit]

Well, when you look at it from the cow`s point of view there`s some sort of a cancer eating them...


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Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:01 PM : Jul 25, 2008
+ report abuse

*****************

or you calling the chef who served you your burger a murderer..

[libsluv2spit]

You clearly were never hit in the head with a rock...



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Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:04 PM : Jul 25, 2008
+ report abuse


************

ohhh I am so sure you have enough exprience on that to know

[Diamonddavej]

Rubbish. EPAs radon limits are based on the unproven assumption that no matter how low the radiation dose there is always risk (Linear No-Threshold model - LNT). EPA based their Radon risk estimates on Uranium miners, who were exposed to Radon levels many times the levels found in the worst contaminated homes.

Instead, resent research suggests that the body repairs low levels of radiation damage - that below a threshold, radiation is harmless or may even provoke a repair response that lowers disease risk. Indeed, in 2005, the French National Academy of Medicine (who guide French government policy) rejected the Linear No-Threshold model.

Several US studies found below a certain threshold, Radon maybe harmless and might even lower lung cancer risk e.g. A recent study found a 60% reduction in lung cancer amongst people exposed to low levels (0%u2013150 Bq/m3) of radon gas (Thompson, R.E.; Nelson, D.F.; Popkin, J.H.; Popkin, Z. (2008). Case-control study of lung cancer risk from residential radon exposure in Worcester County, Massachusetts).

[libsluv2spit]

soon enough scientists would discover we can get cancer listening to Nancy_Naive.

[libsluv2spit]

cool now i can afford a granite kitchen countertop..that prices are soon to drop down like a rock..*batabing bataboom*

[smurfcrusher]

I rather like Nancy''s witty commentary. :)

[alphaa10-2009]

You raise interesting points, but epidemiologists, as a community, are averse to radon exposure. This general approach is based on studies you do not even mention.

No study is "wrong", in and of itself, but contributes only part of the puzzle-- provided the study is done with scientific rigor.

It is the aggregate of studies which continues to suggest radon is a danger, and the linear exposure model is a rational one.

[alphaa10-2009]

DiamondDave said, "Several US studies found(,) below a certain threshold, Radon maybe harmless and might even lower lung cancer risk..."
---

Dave, you raise interesting points, but epidemiologists, as a community, are averse to radon exposure. This general approach is based on studies you do not even mention.

No study is "wrong", in and of itself, but contributes only part of the puzzle-- provided the study is done with scientific rigor.

It is the aggregate of studies which continues to suggest radon is a danger, and the linear exposure model is a rational one.

[Diamonddavej]

alphaa10, yes, LNT is a cautious rule of thumb that guides radiation safety in the absence of tangible data, it just annoys seeing it trusted like gospel. I looked on the Build Clean website, they say 0.2 pi curies might not even be safe! That''s a highly questionable claim, its not based on data.

Also, the 4.4 pi curies/liter was measured at the granite surface (see picture), not in a room, your not going to inhale that radon value unless you sellotape your face to the granite table top.

[jimfinster]

Scientists agree that radon causes lung cancer in humans. Recent research has focused on specifying the effect of residential radon on lung cancer risk. In these studies, scientists measure radon levels in the homes of people who have lung cancer and compare them to the levels of radon in the homes of people who have not developed lung cancer.

Researchers have combined and analyzed data from all radon studies conducted in Canada and the United States. By combining the data from these studies, scientists were able to analyze data from thousands of people. The results of this analysis demonstrated a slightly increased risk of lung cancer associated with exposure to household radon.

[jimfinster]

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

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

[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.

lets face it ppl EVERYTHING is bad for us nowadays.

[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.

[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"

[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."?

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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............

[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]

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 ?