The Myth: Homeowners gulped after reading newspaper stories that
conjured up frightening images of a Three-Mile Kitchen Island. The
reports were about granite countertops that contain radium, which can
emit radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer.
The
Reality: 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 is mined from the earth, where radium and naturally
occurring radioactive materials are not uncommon; certain regions have
higher levels of radioactivity than others, and scientists have worked
for years to determine where they are. But Bill Brodhead, president of
WPB Enterprises, a Pennsylvania radon mitigation company, says, "Very
few granite countertops pose a real threat." And the EPA, after
reviewing test data submitted by manufacturers, issued a statement
saying there isn't enough evidence to suggest granite countertops are a
source of radon. Brodhead adds that the real radon threats are usually
found in basements dug into the ground—or, if you don't have one, the
ground right below your house.
Bottom Line: Radon-related lung
cancer claims the lives of some 20,000 people each year, so it's not to
be taken lightly. If you're worried, pick up a home testing kit for
about $25. If you see levels at or above the EPA's limit, call in a
specialist.
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