However in some instances tests have found that granite countertops give off potentially dangerous levels of radiation.
Is there radiation in granite.
However any radiation present would decrease quickly with increasing distance from the source.
Children and developing fetuses are vulnerable to radiation which can cause other forms of cancer.
If it emits radon it typically does so at very low levels.
It s not true that all granite countertops emit alarming amounts of radon.
While radon gas and radiation emission levels attributable to granite are not typically high there are simply too many variables to generalize about the emissions from granite countertops.
Potassium 40 is a radioactive isotope of weak emission and a constituent of alkali feldspar which in turn is a common component of granitic rocks more abundant in alkali feldspar granite and syenites.
It does pay to find out for sure if there are harmful levels of radioactive elements in your granite countertops.
However keep in mind that avoiding granite countertops does not mean you avoid radiation or radon gas emissions in your home.
Some granite and other natural stones contains trace amounts of uranium.
At most only a tiny percentage of them have been tested for radon or radiation levels but a recent test of 13 types of granite typically used for countertops found no radon or very low levels of.
After all there are always exceptions to the rule.
However high levels of radon in the home from all possible sources is a health concern because it can cause lung cancer.
The lowdown on granite radiation.
Granite is a natural source of radiation like most natural stones.
1 there is general guidance on radiation exposures in buildings and radiation exposure from naturally occurring radioactive materials.