Marble Countertops Radiation

If significant levels are found you ve got to do something about it to protect your family s health.

Marble countertops radiation.

This concentration is less than. It is relieving to hear that the radioactive levels in granite and marble are too small to be of any concern but all construction materials in general emit a small amount of radon gas which is radioactive and can easily accumulate in poorly ventilated buildings. Radiation from granite countertops. Some granite countertops have dangerously high emissions of radiation particularly radon gas.

But marble manufacturers say flat out that radiation in granite is not dangerous. Many homeowners are increasingly worried about the level of radiation they may be getting from their granite countertops. Radiation and radon are generally lower in marbles but both marble and granite has been studied for many years on these issues. And note that the epa advises that all homes be tested for radon regardless of countertop material.

Radon is a cancer causing natural radioactive gas that you can t see smell or taste the environmental. You might even find it in the water. Granite countertops and radon gas science and technical committee of the american association of radon scientists and technologists aarst august 4 2008 2 pages. To find out if your granite or other stone countertops or anything else in the home is emitting radon gas you will need to call 1 800 sos radon 767 7236 to get your home tested.

There are currently no regulations concerning granite countertops radon gas or radiation emissions. Granite is very popular as material for buildings and homes especially as kitchen countertops because of their beauty durability and function. Identifying radiation in granite countertops identifying the presence and concentration of radioactive elements in each specific granite countertop requires sophisticated instruments. If you re interested in exotic granite or worried about your existing countertops testing for both radon and radiation makes sense.

Assuming a relatively tight house with an air change rate of 0 5 per hour h 1 and using average measured dose rates from granite countertop slabs the estimated radon concentration in kitchen air would be 4 8 becquerels per cubic meter bq m 3. However keep in mind that avoiding granite countertops does not mean you avoid radiation or radon gas emissions in your home. At issue is whether some granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radiation especially the gas radon which is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.