Are Granite Countertops Safe? The Truth About Health Risks

When materials such as granite are extracted from the ground, they naturally contain radioactive elements and can sometimes emit radon gas. After years of exposure, radon can cause cancer, which is the main health problem related to this gas.

However, the levels of radon and radiation emission attributable to granite are usually low.

High levels of radon in the home (from all possible sources) can cause lung cancer. The Surgeon General and the EPA recommend testing for radon and reducing it in homes with high levels.

Radioactive minerals in granite can decay and become radon, a colorless, odorless radioactive gas, which can be released from the granite's surface over time.

Granite has been thoroughly studied and the results are evident; it is the most used granite in U. S.

Since granite is not porous and exposed surfaces are treated with sealant, it is more difficult for radon to escape from granite than from more porous stones, such as sandstone. The Environmental Protection Agency says that most granite countertops are safe and add little to a home's radon level.

It has completed a detailed assessment of the potential risks to human health posed by natural radioactive materials in granite countertops. This informational video was produced by the Marble Institute of America, funded in part by the Truth About Granite Fund, and is available for viewing on the Great Lakes Granite & Marble channel. The retraction came after the Natural Stone Institute and its legal team presented a series of scientific studies showing that granite countertops are safe in the home and in the workplace. There isn't a shred of scientific evidence to suggest that granite countertops in the home contribute to increasing radon concentration in the home.