Are the levels of radon gas and radiation emissions from granite countertops dangerous to humans or animals?
While radon gas and radiation emission levels attributable to granite are not typically high, there are simply too many variables to generalize about the potential health risks inside a particular home that has granite countertops. It is prudent to limit your family’s exposure to radon whenever possible. Commonly employed mitigation techniques can reduce the radon level coming from soil beneath your home to 2 pCi/L or less in most homes. At EPA’s action level of 4 pCi/L, a smoker’s risk of lung cancer is about five times the risk of dying in an auto accident, and if you’ve never smoked equal to the risk of dying in an auto accident. The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA strongly recommend that all homes be tested for radon.
