Radon Gas From Granite Countertops. Radon gas can pose a serious health threat. It is possible for any granite sample to contain varying concentrations of uranium that can produce radon gas.
Radon is an odorless colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium that seeps out of the earth more commonly in some places on the planet than others. The reports were about granite countertops that contain radium which can emit radon a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally found in granite due to the decay of radium to radon.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Radon originating from the soil beneath homes is a more common problem and a far larger public health risk than radon from granite building materials.
Granites that emit the most radon are the ones that contain the most uranium. Granites that emit the most radon are the ones that contain the most uranium. The story here appears to be that some granite countertops have been found to emit high levels of radon a strongly carcinogenic natural radioactive element. If the levels of radon in the area containing the granite are higher than your indoor levels in another area of your home AND the surface top test devices also return high results then it is possible that the granite is contributing to or is the source of your indoor radon levels.
