Granite Counter tops hazardous to your health

[Beignet]

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




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

[pidgeon92]

Sounds like more fearmongering....

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

[gt0163c]

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]

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]

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

[gt0163c]

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]

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]

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

[Thatcantberight]

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.

[wwstewart]

Just imagine the dosage you get going outside. It's probably higher. But I agree with Pidgeon92, sounds like liberal fear-mongering to me too. I have more important things to worry about, like the hydrogen sulfide I work around.

Now THAT'S an environmental hazard. Not to the environment, but from the environment.