Should You Worry About Radon?

With all the news reports and controversy surrounding radon gas and granite countertops, you may be very concerned. If you have granite in your home, you may worry that it's harming you and your family. You may also be confused as to what radon is exactly and the health risks it may or may not pose. While a lot of reports may be speculation, there are definite facts we can look at in deciding whether the radon found in granite countertops is in fact hazardous to your health. Here are a couple of those facts and the answers they lead to.

Fact: Radon Gas is a Form of Radiation
Radon is a type of radioactive gas. It is most commonly found in soil throughout the United States, and may be more prevalent in basements located in the midwestern and eastern parts of the country. Such environmental exposure is said to be safe according to government standards. In fact, you're likely to receive more exposure to radon from the soil than from a granite countertop.

Fact: We're Surrounded by Radiation
The word 'radiation' tends to incite panic and fear, and concerns for finding it in your home are legitimate. In certain concentrations with high exposure levels and long exposure times, radiation is very dangerous and shouldn't be treated lightly. Hence, why there have been so many studies and reports focused on radon in granite. But did you know that low concentrations of radiation exist all around us? In fact, we’re all exposed to some amount of radiation every day. How so?

For one thing, the sun is our biggest source of radiation exposure. Every time we step out into sunlight, we absorb some amount of radiation. Other materials making up a house, including concrete blocks, emit radiation. As mentioned above, the very ground we stand on emits some amount of radon. And even foods we consume emit radiation, including potatoes and bananas. We can't escape it; radiation, including radon gas, is a part of our environment. That doesn't mean it's always safe, and if you are concerned that unhealthy amounts of radiation are being emitted in your home, contact a nearby radon organization for help and advice.

Is Radon in Granite Dangerous?
As mentioned, the government deems our everyday exposure to low concentrations of radiation safe. Does this mean that the radon emitted from granite is safe? The U.S. EPA states that "most types of granite used in countertops and other aspects of home construction are not typically known to be major contributors of radiation and radon in the average home." The Florida Department of Health agrees and adds that while "there was measurable gamma radiation from the granite" it was "not at level of concern."

These and other scientific organizations, including the American Association of Radon
Scientists and Technologists (AARST), have studied granite emissions over the years and have concluded that even at their highest the levels of granite emissions are not high enough to cause concern. So there seems to be little to fear from your granite countertop or tiles.