The Low Down On Green Living
July 24th, 2008
Do Your Countertops Glow in the Dark?
Stumble it!
OK, you can accuse me of choosing a sensational-ist title, but I did come across a NY Times article this morning that was quite illumating! We’ve often advocated for green countertops for the environmental benefits, but now there’s another very important reason to choose green as well: some of the traditional granite countertops emit high levels of radiation!
It sounds pretty crazy at first glance. However, the earth’s crust is filled with minerals that emit small amounts of radiation, and granite is one of the types of rock that contains radioactive elements. Uranium deposits, for instance, are often found at the boundaries between igneous rocks (such as granite) and other layers of rock. As uranium decays, it emits radon gas. In fact, much of the radon gas that seeps into homes in certain parts of the country comes from the decay of uranium in underground granite deposits. Granite quarried in the US is most likely safe because of better testing and sourcing, but with today’s explosion of granite options from all parts of the world some less-than-safe choices have slipped in.
So, should you call in your local radon surveyors or rip out that granite countertop? Not so fast … even when decorative granite does contain high levels of radiation relative to your average granite slab, it still isn’t nearly as bad as the cosmic radiation you’re bombarded with when flying in a commercial jet. That being said, no radiation is good radiation, especially when you have young kids around. So, if you are thinking about a remodel or choosing new counters for your dream home, consider the many eco-friendly countertop options that DON’T contain minerals from deep within the earth. And, if you have granite already, consider using an inexpensive test kit (several options here) to check before making any expensive decisions.
Oh, and if you really do want countertops that glow, check out EnviroGLAS surfaces made with EnviroGLO aggregate. They are VERY cool. (Pictured at left.) You can see an example on TV on my Greenovate episode (on Discovery Channel’s Planet Green network) starting tomorrow night, for Adam and Suzan used it in their home’s flooring to amazing effect! Click here for a schedule of upcoming shows - the Adam & Suzan Greenovate show is at the bottom.
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Comments
Leslie @ the oko box
July 29th, 2008 at 8:16 am
This is really interesting because granite is a natural material, but I guess when it comes out of it’s natural environment it isn’t really safe. I suppose if someone removes it from their house, they can break it into pieces and make a beautiful stone walkway in the yard
Thanks for suggesting some alternatives.
Emi
July 29th, 2008 at 8:39 am
This article IS very interesting but it does have another side to it. The MIA has published an article as well, rebutting the NY Times article. There are two theories here at work so getting all of the information is best. Check it out…
http://www.marble-institute.com/industryresources/truthaboutgraniteradonradiation.pdf
I work at a countertop company and work with Granite, but we also work with green countertops now, such as Envirglass and IceStone and Paperstone, and Bamboo butcher block. Choosing one of these new options is the way to go if you want to stay green. The more popular they get, the better the pricing gets for these new products too. Wherever you buy your countertops from, check to make sure they use safe and non-hazardous ways to fabricate the countertops, such as recycling their waste water and scrap materials.
Bobette
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:23 am
The press is responding to planted scare stories. The makers of radon testing equipment are working with companies like Cosentino that makes Silestone to imply that radon emissions from granite are harmful so that people will buy their product. Be sensible before you rip out a gorgeous granite countertop to use as garden stepping stones and test your house and water. The MIA says that most areas with granitic deposits show more radon in the dirt and ground or well water than in a granite countertop from which the radon starts dispersing as soon as it is dug from the earth and is nearly radon-free by the time it is installed in your home many months later.
Steven Rondeau
August 4th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Bobette,
You are absolutely correct. My cousin owns a granite counter top business. The granite is checked for radon, only a handful have ever tested higher than allowed. The other thing is you need to be in contact with the counter top unless it is extremely high in radon.
Al
November 30th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hogwash! We have granite workers telling us granite is safe?
There are three committees looking into this danger, ASTM (world wide material standards organization), the CRCPD (state radiation officials) and AARST (radon scientists). If this was all bunk, none of the experts would waste their time.
And for steven to claim that granite is checked for Radon…… B.S.! Then to say you have to be in contact for the Radon to hurt you, Radon is a gas that diffuses throught out the home.
And Bobette wants you to think that the Radon goes away after a few months? Pure ignorance! The Radon comes from the decay of uranium, working it’s way down the decay chain until it gets to Radium, which is the parent element of Radon gas. The granite will be emitting Radon for billions of years. What lead the CRCPD, ASTM,and AARST to look into this was due to the news stories publicizing the scientists work on this issue. Dr.Kitto found over 500 pCi/sf/hr of Radon coming from one of the samples we sent him.
What we have here is a bunch of granite fabricators trying to stuff the bad news back in the rear end of the bull.
Don @ EcoTech
February 6th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
I own a professional radon measuring and mitigation company. In my experience, granite is rarely a significant source of radon in homes. If yo uare ocncerned, test yor home for radon (the EPA recomends that every home be tested) and if it is high and yo uhave granite counters then look at them as a source. Don’t just toss the counters pro-actively.
Liz
February 24th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Right - the greenest thing to do is nothing.
If you have a granite countertop that is safe, leaving it in place is greener than replacing it - no matter how green the replacement is.
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