Granite countertops are definitely a major trend in kitchen design in the last few years. Granite countertops are strong, stain resistant, scratch resistant and look beautiful. Nowadays, if you are going to sell a home, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t have granite countertops.
One of the issues with granite countertops that has been in the news lately is that these countertops may pose a health hazard to your family in the form of radon gas. Radon gas is basically a form a radiation that can leach into your home. It can expose individuals to as much radiation as getting several x-rays a week and can lead to lung cancer and other forms of cancer.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is generated when small amounts of uranium decays. This uranium is naturally occurring in the earth’s crust. In other words, it is all around us in our backyard and under our home.
Some granite countertops have been found to contain this uranium, which is not surprising, since granite is a real rock that comes from the earth. Recently, granite that has been exported from Brazil and other places has tested positive.
What does this mean to you if you have granite countertops? The first thing is not to panic. In all probability, the countertops you have will not release radon gas. Even if they did, the amounts would be tiny. Radon gas can also be released by concrete, cement and gypsum, other materials that may be have been used in and around your home.
The best thing that you can do, if you are concerned, is to buy a radon testing kit or call an expert radon tester to come in to your home and test the radon levels. A professional will cost you around $300, which is a small cost to prevent cancer. An expert may also be able to help you locate the source of the radon if it is present, whether it is in your basement or your kitchen.
As for granite countertops, the Marble Institute of America says that it will be looking in to the issue and developing ways to screen granite before it gets made into kitchen countertops.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don’t miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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