Urban Ecoist

Seems there may be a problem with granite countertops, and if you have them, you may have invited radon into your home.

Does that mean that you should go to the expense and bother of removing said countertops? Probably not, as the radon emitted by the small amounts of uranium that may be present within that granite, are equally small. You probably breathe in more radon every day simply breathing.

However, some countertops or any other granite surfaces that are used for decorative facades do have some rather high levels of uranium. Not only is uranium radioactive, which is bad enough in and of itself, but as uranium decays it gives off radon. Radon is odorless and colorless, so it is not like you can see radon. Some houses’ basements also pose a danger of emitting radon, depending on the surrounding rock and soil.

You can have your house tested for radon. There are also radon test kits that are commercially available, usually costing around $25. If you find that you have elevated levels of radon in your home, you should contact your state radon office by accessing the EPA website’s list here.

The Environmental Protection Agency (if you trust it) claims that there is no conclusive evidence of danger from granite, but of course, you never know when you just happen to get that one countertop that just happens to have really high levels of uranium, coupled with the fact that your house sits on soil that also emits high levels of radon, and well, you see where I am going with this.

This remodel may have gone a bit overboard with the radon…er, I mean granite.

Radon is a carcinogen, that is it causes cancer. In radon’s case, it causes lung cancer, and the EPA estimates that 7000 to 30000 deaths from lung cancer may be attributable to radon every year. Radon may also cause emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic interstitial pneumonia.

If you are thinking about putting in new countertops, you should check out all the recycled materials that are available, like icestone (at right), which is made from recycled glass, or even materials like concrete and bamboo.

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