Is Radon Found In Granite

Radon originating in the soil beneath homes is a more common problem and a far larger public health risk than radon from granite building materials.

Is radon found in granite.

Picture courtesy of the national park service website. After years of radon research independent researchers have not found any indication that using granite indoors puts homeowners at risk for increased radon exposure. Ok so the risk from granite is minuscule but how common is radon in u s. Granite countertops and radon gas science and technical committee of the american association of radon scientists and technologists aarst august 4 2008 2 pages.

The ny times article included a story about a new jersey resident who s new york summer home was found to emit high levels of radon traced to the granite countertops. The epa says that approximately one of every 15 homes throughout the country whether new or old has elevated radon levels. Granite is a natural and common source of radon. According to the epa s definition radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas.

However some granite countertops were found to emit not only measurable amounts of radon but amounts at levels high enough to give one pause such as the case in the sugarman home mentioned above. Granites can contain parts per billion of radium providing for an extremely small amount of. Radon is produced naturally by chemical processes originating from local geology. Radon found in granite countertops a friend of mine pointed me to this article in new york times talking about radon emissions from granite countertops.

If the levels of radon in the area containing the granite are higher than your indoor levels in another area of your home and the surface top test devices also return high results then it is possible that the granite is contributing to or is the source of your indoor radon levels. We have seen no evidence that people who live in homes containing granite countertops receive any abnormal or elevated exposures to radon or radiation says macintosh. Granite like any other stone may contain veins of naturally occurring radioactive elements like uranium thorium and their radioactive decay products. Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally found in granite due to the decay of radium to radon.

Radon that originates in the soil is the main cause of radon problems the epa says. That discussed the possibility of granite emitting radon gas into your home.