Marble Institute of America: Industry and Professional Resources

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Granite and Radon/Radiation Safety Information

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials and Technologically Enhanced NORM – Chapter 10 – “Radioactivity in Granite Countertops”

Assessing Exposure to Radon and Radiation from Granite Countertops (Complete Report)

Assessing Exposure to Radon and Radiation from Granite Countertops (Executive Summary)

Radon and Granite White Paper—9-3-08

MIA Truth About Granite Video (on YouTube) - 8-22-08 (watch it on YouTube or order a showroom DVD from the online store)

MIA Consumer Radon Brochure - 8-19-08 (printed copies are available from the online store)

MIA RADON WEBINAR - 8-7-08 (click the link for the latest update on the radon in granite situation)

Studies on Radon and Granite Countertops

Response to New York Times Article, "What's Lurking in Your Countertop?"

EPA and State Departments of Health Radon Information

MIA Produced Radon Information

Granite Countertops and Your Family's Safety
Radon Q & A
MIA Consumer Radon Brochure - 8-19-08 (printed copies are available from the online store)
Truth About Granite Video (watch it on YouTube or order a showroom DVD from the online store)

Media Reports About Radon/Radiation in Granite

Key Quotes Regarding Radon in Granite Countertops

"No action needs to be taken to remove granite countertops in existing homes. For those who are concerned, valid radon concentration monitoring should be conducted in the living areas of the home. Radon measurement devices should be placed where they measure the ambient air of the room. If the granite countertop is believed to be a cause for concern, some action might be considered. However, it would be more effective in terms of risk reduction to take steps to mitigate radon concentrations throughout the home. The cost of such mitigation would likely be less than 10% of the cost of replacing kitchen countertops and would very likely result in a much greater overall risk reduction."
"A considerable amount of research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific literature and all of it comes to the same conclusion: the levels of radon coming off a granite countertop are not excessive and not showing any risk for the population in their homes. To properly measure radon, one must calculate the emission rate in connection with the volume of air in the home. Much like paint fumes do, radon generally dilutes harmlessly into a home's air. To get even close to the type of dangerous levels of radon exposure that's been reported in news articles recently, a consumer would have to completely seal off the room, stay in that room 24/7 - for 72 years."
While natural rocks such as granite may emit some radon gas, the subsequent levels of radon in the building that are attributable to such sources are not typically high."

How Does Radon Get into a Building?
(from the National Safety Council)

"Most indoor radon comes into the building from the soil or rock beneath it. Radon and other gases rise through the soil and get trapped under the building. The trapped gases build up pressure. Air pressure inside homes is usually lower than the pressure in the soil. Therefore, the higher pressure under the building forces gases though floors and walls and into the building. Most of the gas moves through cracks and other openings. Once inside, the radon can become trapped and concentrated.

"Openings which commonly allow easy flow of the gases in include the following:

Cracks in floors and walls
Gaps in suspended floors
Openings around sump pumps and drains
Cavities in walls
Joints in construction materials
Gaps around utility penetrations (pipes and wires)
Crawl spaces that open directly into the building

"Radon may also be dissolved in water, particularly well water. After coming from a faucet, about one ten thousandth of the radon in water is typically released into the air. The more radon there is in the water, the more it can contribute to the indoor radon level.

"Trace amounts of uranium are sometimes incorporated into materials used in construction. These include, but are not limited to concrete, brick, granite, and drywall. Though these materials have the potential to produce radon, they are rarely the main cause of an elevated radon level in a building." (http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/radon.htm)

The truth of the matter is that granite is a safe product. It's been used for thousands of years and the relationship between granite and radon has been studied for years and years. How safe is granite? There have been mathematical models developed that show that one could live in an all-granite home or building, including sleeping on granite, for an entire year and still be within very safe levels of exposure. Nonetheless, the Marble Institute of America has produced a brochure to help you understand granites, radioactivity and natural stone.

Radioactivity in Granite: It's Natural

All rocks have a small amount of radioactivity in them due to the presence of minerals that contain radioactive elements uranium (U), thorium (Th) and potassium-40 (K40). Because granite typically contains more of these elements than most other rocks, it will be more radioactive than a slate or marble. All of the minerals in granite contain some radioelements; the white or pink feldspars contain K40, the black biotites and horn-blendes contain K40, U and Th, and the small inclusions of minerals such as zircon, apatite, sphene, etc. contain the most U and Th.

Radiation: It's All Around Us

It's in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, in the soil and rock we stand on, and in the sun's rays we like to bask in! Added to this is the radiation we get from man-made sources, such as x-rays, medical treatments, building materials, etc.

Radiation in Granite is Not Dangerous

From what we know, there are two ways in which countertops, tiles and other finishes made of granite might emit any level of radiation. The first is by the release of tiny amounts of the radioactive gas radon which can be inhaled. The second is by direct radiation from the surface itself to the homeowner. In both cases, the radiation emitted is from the same process - natural radioactive decay of one element into another. Compared to other radiation sources in the home and outside, the risk to the homeowner from radioactivity emitted from a granite countertop or tiles is practically non-existent. In fact, the amount of radon gas emitted by a granite countertop is less than one millionth of that already present in the household air from other sources.

Typical Contributions to
Radon Content of Indoor Air (pCi/L)

Additional Radon Information
Professional Testing

The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend all homes be tested and fixed if the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more.

Find links to qualified testing and mitigation professionals in your state at the EPA website and via the National Environmental Health Association or the National Radon Safety Board. The latter two groups offer proficiency listing/accreditation/certification in testing and mitigation.

Health Info

Studies about radon's health effects can be found through the nonprofit American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (www.aarst.org), the World Health Organization (www.who.int), and many other locations. If you have further questions about radon and granite, contact the Marble Institute of America at 440-250-9222, send an email to miainfo@marble-institute.com, or visit www.marble-institute.com.

About the Marble Institute of America
For over 60 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors and contractors around the world.