Is My Granite Countertop Radioactive
Granite countertops have been in the news lately due to concerns about some of them being radioactive.
Is my granite countertop radioactive. But the extent and significance of the problem is unknown. This task will call for the use of specific instruments. They have been raised periodically mostly by manufacturers and distributors of competing countertop materials as well as the manufacturers of radon detection devices. Here are some questions we have been receiving lately.
Understandably such videos can make someone question the safety of their countertops or the granite they were planning to purchase. While granite and other decorative stone can contain some trace natural radioactivity granite countertops are not considered to be a key contributor to radiation in the average home. Can i test my granite countertops for radiation. Different countertops produce different amounts of radiation.
These instruments require proper calibration and a knowledge and trained user to interpret the results. Identify the levels of radiation in granite countertops. Radiation concentrations can only be measured using multiple portable instruments or with laboratory equipment. A homeowner or renter may come across an alarming video that shows a geiger counter ticking wildly as it nears a stone countertop.
At this time a generally accepted radiation testing protocol for countertops does not exist and neither imported nor domestic granite products require radiation testing. Identifying the presence and concentration of radioactive elements in each specific granite countertop requires sophisticated instruments. Is my granite countertop radioactive. The lowdown on granite radiation.
After all there are always exceptions to the rule. 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. You can identify the levels presence and concentration of the radioactive elements found in your granite countertops.
Can i test my granite countertops for radiation. 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. However allegations that granite countertops are radioactive and can emit radon gas are not new. Yes all granite countertops are radioactive however the level is probably quite low.
The instruments used for the testing the radioactivity in your counters will require proper calibration knowledge. Radioactive minerals in the granite can decay into radon a colorless odorless radioactive gas which may be released from the surface of the granite over. Occasionally the question arises about whether granite is radioactive. If you are interested in learning about testing methods.