Paper: Granite Safe Radon Zone

  The Natural Stone Countertops and Radon white paper from Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE) Inc. of Needham, Mass., reviewed more than 500 measurements of radon emissions from granite in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The white paper – announced by the Marble Institute of America – concluded that the indoor-radon-level contribution by a granite slab is:
  
• 300 times lower than levels of radon in outdoor air;
  
• 1,000 times below the average concentration of radon found in the air of U.S. homes; and
  
• 3,000 times less than the action level for indoor air recommended by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  
"We reviewed data reported by every peer-reviewed, published study we could find and the conclusion is clear: No scientific evidence exists to suggest that granite countertops are a source of meaningful exposure to radon," said Dr. John F. McCarthy, president of EHE, a consulting firm specializing in indoor environmental exposure assessments. "To be clear, the numbers came from scientific studies that were reviewed by other scientists, which meet a much higher standard for accuracy than the data commonly reported in popular media."    
  
"In considering the public's health, we ask an important question — how much do natural stone countertops contribute to the amount of radon inside U.S. homes?" McCarthy asked. "The answer is very little, according to the best scientific evidence that is available at this time."    
  
A copy of the complete study, including citations of all peer-reviewed scientific journals it analyzed, can be downloaded either through the MIA or EHE Websites.