Chris Shupp of Holmes & Watson Real Estate Inspection answered some of our questions about the recent newspaper articles about the possible dangers of radon emitted from the very popular granite countertops.
Granites often contain trace amounts of material that can produce measurable amounts of radon gas. However, the key word is "measurable". As an illustration, imagine turning on a burner on your stovetop. The burner emits heat, but has little to no effect on the overall temperature of your house. Similarly, if your countertop emits a small amount of radon, it will generally be insignificant when diluted with the quantity of air in your entire home. You are hundreds of times more likely to be at risk for radon emanating from the soil beneath your home. The US EPA states it simply in the Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction:
"In a small number of homes, the building materials (e.g., granite and certain concrete products) can give off radon, although building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. In the United States, radon gas in soils is the principal source of elevated radon levels in homes."
Chris recommended airing out the house a couple of times a week as a sensible precaution, but concerned homeowners can also buy inexpensive test kits at their local hardware store.
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