Could Your Kitchen Granite Countertops Give You Cancer?
July 25, 2008 by
Is There a Health Hazard to Granite?
On July 24, 2008, the New York Times Online had a story about a granite kitchen countertop emitting higher than normal dosages of radiation at Lynn Sugarman's home in Teaneck, N.J. Popularity forTwo years ago, my husband and I refurbished our kitchen and bought beautiful granite that originated from Brazil, yet processed through Italy. So, this especially caught our eyes because our granite was from Brazil.
According to the story with Lynn Sugarman, two years ago she decided to do a routine radon gas inspection in her home. Radon gas is a radioactive gas that is said to cause lung cancer. She called a radon and mitigation technician to come out and use a Geiger counter within her home. He went room to room, until he was stopped dead in his tracks around her granite kitchen countertops. His Geiger counter was showing 10 times the amount of radiation compared to other parts of her home. Once she found this out, the next day she ripped the granite kitchen tops out of her home and sent it immediately to her local Department of Health for further analysis.
According to Stanley Liebert, the technician who took the radiation measurement from Lynn Sugarman's home, he says not all granite is dangerous. Nevertheless, he goes on to say, "But I've seen a few that might heat up your Cheerios a little."
According to the E.P.A., they recommend to take action if radon gas levels in a home which exceeds 4 picocuries per liter of air which is equivalent to smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day.
This article provides cleaning and care guidelines for granite countertops. It provides recommended products and methods for cleaing and sealing granite to maintain its integrity and prevent damage.
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