Aug 5 2008 9:03AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (1) |
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I wasn’t all that concerned by a story published late last month in the New York Times about potentially high levels of radon gas seeping out of our granite countertops. Yes, there might be some teensy bit of radioactivity going on there, but it’s certainly nothing worse than the doses you get from a cross-country flight. It’s just another example of less-than-diligent journalism and fear overtaking reason, if only just a little bit.

The author of the story cited an example in Lake George, New York.  A homeowner found the granite countertops were emitting radiation at levels 10 times higher than those measured elsewhere, including the basement. The report cited other examples of so-called “hot” countertops elsewhere as well.

The EPA recently issued new statements following the story to help clear some of this up. "While natural minerals such as granite may occasionally emit radon gas, the levels of radon attributable to such sources are not typically high," the EPA statement said. "The EPA believes the principal source of radon in homes is soil gas that is drawn indoors through a natural suction process.” Read the rest of the EPA report here.

Jim Hogan, president of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), probably said it best so far. In a statement released to the public, he said "Every time researchers have applied rigorous scientific standards to testing, the results have found that granite countertops pose no risk," Hogan says. "Repeated studies have found that granite is safe. Unfortunately, some recent junk science being reported as fact only serves to panic the public, not inform it." Read the University of Akron report here.