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.
Is there radiation in granite.
Granite is a natural source of radiation like most natural stones.
Children and developing fetuses are vulnerable to radiation which can cause other forms of cancer.
It does pay to find out for sure if there are harmful levels of radioactive elements in your 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.
However in some instances tests have found that granite countertops give off potentially dangerous levels of radiation.
The lowdown on granite radiation.
If it emits radon it typically does so at very low levels.
1 there is general guidance on radiation exposures in buildings and radiation exposure from naturally occurring radioactive materials.
Some granite and other natural stones contains trace amounts of uranium.
It s not true that all granite countertops emit alarming amounts of radon.
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.
However keep in mind that avoiding granite countertops does not mean you avoid radiation or radon gas emissions in your home.
Use the radiation dose calculator to estimate your yearly dose from sources of ionizing radiation.
It is extremely unlikely that radiation from granite countertops would increase annual radiation doses above normal natural background levels.