Granite Countertops Are Not A Health Threat: Environmental Experts

Granite countertops are a popular choice for your house. However many are skeptical using it as they feel that it might be a health threat. In recent years it has been alleged that countertops made with granite often give up radon gas which is harmful for health and hence it is imperative that you test them before it causes any serious problem to you and your family. Recent research however has nullified these claims and said granite countertops are not harmful at all.

According to the statements made by the experts, though radon gas might pose serious threat yet in most cases the amount of radon gas that comes out from granite countertop is hardly sufficient to be a threat. In fact in most cases, the amount of radon gas, which the granite countertops produce is negligible. It can thus not manage to hamper your health, the experts said. The granite and marble manufacturers too have declined this allegation and refuted such baseless claims. They said that this type of radiation is not at all dangerous.

The officials of the Environmental Protection Agency wrote about thus issue on their website. According to them radon is a dangerous gas which can cause cancer. The worst part is that you cannot see, taste or smell this gas. It can make you sick. However they said that since granite produces negligible amount of radon hence using granite countertops in kitchen is not dangerous at all. Doctors stated that most of the lung cancers occur due to radon. In America, many people die from lung cancer caused by radon gas. It is considered as the second leading cause of cancer (lung) in the United States of America. In America, more than twenty thousand people die due to lung cancer. This statistic is enough to raise concern but it should be remembered that in most cases radon gas is inhaled from atmosphere; there is almost no example of an individual getting cancer after inhalation of radon emitted from granite countertops. This well proves the fact that granite countertops are harmless.

The demand and popularity for granite countertops is increasing with time. This is because most people have realized that there is more threat to inhale radon from atmosphere than from granite countertops.

The measurement of radon in the air is done by pCi/L or PicoCuries (per liter of air). The situation may turn to be dangerous if 4 pCi/L amount of radon is found in the air. One needs to take immediate action in this case. According to the reports of the New York Times, 4 picocuries of radio gas in the air is as dangerous as smoking a ½ packet of cigarette each day. Doctors and researchers are trying to make people aware about this issue.

United States Marble authorities too have welcomed this effort and have also stated that the amounts of radio active materials present in granite countertops are not harmful. It cannot trigger any health problem, said the authorities.

Rather Radon emission from luminous watches, X rays and smoke detectors could be considered to be more dangerous.