It does pay to find out for sure if there are harmful levels of radioactive elements in your granite countertops.
Is marble radioactive.
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 story here appears to be that some granite countertops have been found to emit high levels of radon a strongly carcinogenic natural radioactive element.
In fact all natural stones of any type contain radioactive materials as a matter of course.
The lowdown on granite radiation.
Marble radiation is even smaller than wood.
However keep in mind that avoiding granite countertops does not mean you avoid radiation or radon gas emissions in your home.
According to marble institute of america spokesman jim martinez 2 000 different stones from quarries around the world are sold as granite in the united states.
Inhaling the accumulated radon could give rise to small degree of radiation.
This is only slightly radioactive if treated with chemicals.
These marbles barely register on sensitive geiger counters and the radiation emitted barely creeps above the background radiation we experience everyday from natural sources.
Take a look at these large slabs of stone.
Despite this they pose no danger to humans.
Does the epa believe there is a danger of radon gas or associated radiation being emitted from granite countertops.
These trace concentrations may vary from stone to stone or even within a single slab of granite.
After all there are always exceptions to the rule.
But if the findings.
Granite like any other stone may contain veins of naturally occurring radioactive elements like uranium thorium and their radioactive decay products.
The mainstream of the market price of stone is generally in the 10 00 to 15 00 per square feet.
It is relieving to hear that the radioactive levels in granite and marble are too small to be of any concern but all construction materials in general emit a small amount of radon gas which is radioactive and can easily accumulate in poorly ventilated buildings.
Marble is not considered to be radioactive even in the slightest bit.
It is possible for any granite sample to contain varying concentrations of uranium and other naturally occurring radioactive elements.
Although the marbles emit beta particles and gamma rays which are dangerous at high levels they only give off a small number of these radioactive decay products.