More on Radon in Granite Countertops
What’s the latest news on radon in granite countertops? Recently, WCCO, a CBS affliliate in Minnesota, broadcast an investigative report to follow up on the initial wave of media coverage on this topic, which created an avalanche of concern that prompted responses from the U.S. EPA, the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists and the Marble Institute, to name just a few.
On WCCO’s website Terri Gruca reports:
Granite is the rock of choice for many homeowners. It's durable, virtually scratch resistant and never fades, but there's a side of this stone you may not know.
"We found some materials that had radon-generating potential," said Dr. Daniel Steck, a physics professor at St. John's University. Steck heads the Minnesota Radon Project and has been running radon tests for years.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It's a naturally occurring gas found in rock, soil and water. So it only makes sense you might find it in granite. Granite, like other kinds of rocks and soils, contains some naturally occurring radioactive elements.
Click here to view the entire WCCO broadcast, featuring Ms. Gruca and Dr. Steck.
Click here to view our home radon test kits.
Posted by HomeAire Blogging Team
Posted Date: November 19, 2008 at 4:21 PM
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Hi all!
Nice site!
G'night
Posted by aazbox on November 25, 2008 3:45 PM
I'm glad to see you turned to an expert for info on this topic rather than believe the stone industry. Way too much money at risk, plus the stone industry guys have sucessfully covered this up for the past 14 years. They can?t tell the truth, so they keep digging the hole deeper.
If this was a non issue, neither the CRCPD (state radiation officials) nor AARST (radon scientists) would have committees seting maximum allowable radiation/radon levels for stones and measurement protocols. ANSI and ASME are also looking into the controversy for their organizations.
On the radon issue, we have a full scale radon test going currently, over 10 pCi/L so far from only 18square feet of granite in a 96 square foot room. That is like smoking 1 1/2 packs a day,
http://forum.solidsurfacealliance.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=98ST
We have a lot of info on the topics available.
forum.solidsurfacealliance.org
solidsurfacealliance.org/blog
solidsurfacealliance.org
Posted by Al Gerhart on December 28, 2008 1:00 PM