Granite Counter tops hazardous to your health

Beignet · 05-10-2008, 09:23 AM

http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dw....da1f6698.html

I can't believe this. Do you think Home Depot knew?

pidgeon92 · 05-10-2008, 05:32 PM

Sounds like more fearmongering....

http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q5888.html

gt0163c · 05-12-2008, 04:13 AM

Most granite does emit radiation, but, from what I understand, the levels are incredibly low. If I remember correctly, one of my college professors (an Earth and Atmospheric Sciences guy) was convinced that even if you slept directly on Stone Mountain (giant granite rock/mountain just east of Atlanta) every night for all of your life, the radiation still wouldn't have any negative side effects.

Also, radiation levels fall off with the square of the distance, so even being just a few inches away will dramatically decrease the level of radiation a person is exposed to. A foot or more and I would bet that the amount or radiation isn't even discernable above the background radiation. Personally, I'd be more worried about remembering to wear sun screen than about having granite counter tops in my kitchen.

cindybythesea · 06-06-2008, 10:49 AM

I would guess as time went on though the granite would emit less and a less wouldn't it?

I use a cutting board and stuff anyway so I don't let the food touch the counter.

rachael24 · 06-12-2008, 05:37 AM

I also do not let any food touch the granite either...better to be safe.

gt0163c · 06-17-2008, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cindybythesea

I would guess as time went on though the granite would emit less and a less wouldn't it?

I use a cutting board and stuff anyway so I don't let the food touch the counter.

Theoretically, as time goes on, the granite will emit less radiation. However the amount of time for the drop-off to be discernable is quite possibly measured in at least decades if not centuries. I'm not certain which elements are emitting the radiation in granite, so I don't know what the half-life is. But, it's almost certainly pretty long. So, if you've had granite counter tops for, say five years, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the levels of radiation emitted haven't changed enough for you to notice.

But, as I mentioned above, I don't think that's a huge deal. The amount of radiation emitted from granite is very, very small and it falls of quickly with distance from the stone. I don't have granite counter tops, but I would have no qualms about having them, using them, having food directly on them, etc. I don't believe the radiation levels are enough to cause harm.

spencer · 06-17-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rachael24

I also do not let any food touch the granite either...better to be safe.

Sounds like the most sensible thing to do.

Julie Rains · 06-17-2008, 04:07 PM

I asked someone who was a Chemistry major/Radiochemistry minor about granite; she said there was miniscule amounts of radiation in granite.

Thatcantberight · 06-24-2008, 11:10 AM

I think a wise person would be more worried about the radiation emitted by microwave ovens, or mobile phones, or cell towers in their neighborhood, or solar flares.

Everything emits some radiation...its a hazard that comes with living in the Universe. You can't escape it.

The levels of radiation from granite is low in comparison to all of the items I mentioned. Worry about those.

05-10-2008, 09:23 AM	#1
Beignet Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 13 Reputation: (10)	Granite Counter tops hazardous to your health http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dw....da1f6698.html I can't believe this. Do you think Home Depot knew?

06-12-2008, 05:37 AM	#5
rachael24 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 36 Reputation: (10)	I also do not let any food touch the granite either...better to be safe. __________________ Recent Finance graduate with a concentration in debt counseling.

06-17-2008, 04:07 PM	#8
Julie Rains Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 194 Reputation: (46)	I asked someone who was a Chemistry major/Radiochemistry minor about granite; she said there was miniscule amounts of radiation in granite. __________________ Wise Bread and Parenting Squad blogger

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05-10-2008, 05:32 PM	#2
pidgeon92 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Waukegan IL Posts: 22 Reputation: (12)	Sounds like more fearmongering.... http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q5888.html

05-12-2008, 04:13 AM	#3
gt0163c Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 178 Reputation: (33)	Most granite does emit radiation, but, from what I understand, the levels are incredibly low. If I remember correctly, one of my college professors (an Earth and Atmospheric Sciences guy) was convinced that even if you slept directly on Stone Mountain (giant granite rock/mountain just east of Atlanta) every night for all of your life, the radiation still wouldn't have any negative side effects. Also, radiation levels fall off with the square of the distance, so even being just a few inches away will dramatically decrease the level of radiation a person is exposed to. A foot or more and I would bet that the amount or radiation isn't even discernable above the background radiation. Personally, I'd be more worried about remembering to wear sun screen than about having granite counter tops in my kitchen.

06-06-2008, 10:49 AM	#4
cindybythesea Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Reputation: (10)	I would guess as time went on though the granite would emit less and a less wouldn't it? I use a cutting board and stuff anyway so I don't let the food touch the counter.

06-24-2008, 11:10 AM	#9
Thatcantberight Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8 Reputation: (10)	I think a wise person would be more worried about the radiation emitted by microwave ovens, or mobile phones, or cell towers in their neighborhood, or solar flares. Everything emits some radiation...its a hazard that comes with living in the Universe. You can't escape it. The levels of radiation from granite is low in comparison to all of the items I mentioned. Worry about those.