This is a colorless gas that comes from decaying uranium.
Radon emissions from granite.
Experts agree that most.
Radium is the immediate precursor to radon in the uranium decay series.
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.
Granite is very popular as material for buildings and homes especially as kitchen countertops because of their beauty durability and function.
Both articles reported on elevated levels of radon a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer being emitted by some granite countertops.
Some granite countertops have dangerously high emissions of radiation particularly radon gas.
While natural rocks such as granite may emit radiation and radon gas the levels attributable to such sources are not typically high.
Here are some frequently asked questions about radon and the risks associated with 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.
In fact up to 95 of the geiger counter clicks may come from the potassium.
In most cases the noise is produced by two other naturally occurring elements.
So are granite countertops a real risk.
If your home has a radon level of 4 picocuries per liter pci l of air or more you should take steps to fix your home and reduce the radon level.
Some granite countertops have been found to give off trace amounts of radon and reporters cited a few kitchens with radon levels as high as 25 times the epa s safety limit of 4 picocuries per liter of air.
Granite countertop radon emissions researchers currently studying the most commonly used granite in kitchen countertops have found that all the 55 samples they ve tested emit radon radiation at.
Granite like any other stone may contain veins of naturally occurring radioactive elements like uranium thorium and their radioactive decay products.
