Granite countertops may be radioactive

[what next]

bogus wrote:

My husband works for a kitchen design shop. He says there is a huge war between granite and Silestone type counter part distributors and each of them makes claims against the other to try to get you to buy their product. He says granite is not radioactive.

Does he glow in the dark? ;)

[Healthy Skeptic]

This story is a hoax. We read about this in the NYT about two weeks ago (so therefore, it's not really news). We had our granite counters tested for radon, setting up a control in a room far away. Both came back with extremely low readings. I called the lab, Alpha Energy, and spoke to one of the lab technicians there. In the past couple of months, they have been inundated with radon tests on granite counters and they have ALL come up low. I spoke with a granite industry spokesman who said the media is fueled by a study funded in part by the Silestone Corp (maker of quartz engineered counter surfaces). No journalist has ever bothered to properly research this story. The only granite of any concern is highly striated red and pink granite with deposits of thorium.

[geologist]

Granite is radioactive, especially absolute black from India

[DAS]

No nicotene here EITHER ...............

[DAS]

What about that MICROWAVE OVEN ??????

[Macumazahn]

Someone please look up the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. A light bulb produces "radiation". So does my manual alarm clock. It's not going to make you sick.

[Grim Reaper]

DAS wrote:

What about that MICROWAVE OVEN ??????

Just make sure you keep it on your granite counter top and paint the inside of it with lead base paint - you should be fine.

[Alatta Huey]

Glad I put onyx in the bathroom. Of course they will probably have an article about that soon too.

[Judge and Jury]

Everything kills us one way or another. That`s why we don`t live forever.

[Dick]

Can you cook right on the counter tops?
It would save energy...

[OLD PRO]

Zoe wrote:

I've NEVER been one to follow the crowd--am redoing my kitchen but DON'T want granite or stainless steel appliances--and definitely NO dishwasher. Never had a poodle skirt in the 50's or SUV either--too common and not practical.

Enjoy your tent!!!

[Granite Guy]

Actually, the granite makes womens breast larger but we have no complaints so far!!!!

[DMB FAN]

sra wrote:

You guys are so funny. Glad I didn't jump on the bandwagon and buy granite.

I agree. Who decided granite was the gold standard? Now everyone is doing it and everyone has the same kitchen.

[Yippie]

I think John is Right!

As if the house real estate sellers did not have enough problems he he he

John wrote:

I'm sure all the real estate agents are now scrmbling to edit their MLS listing to take the granite countertops out of the home descriptions. Instead of "luxurious home with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances" it will read "protect you family in this nice three bedroom two bath with Formica."

[moose]

focus on cunsumption of US products and continue to feed our economy. Granite gives a beautiful look and feel but there are also many other options available for a cheaper price.

[Uninformed]

Wouldn't it be nice if the media did testing or data gathering when doing a story of the radioactive granite issue? Maybe comparisons of different substances like clay (or bricks) and radioactivity in smoke alarms. I guess that would require readers to think. Since the news-people assume we don't, they don't bother.

I also love the way people assure us that the countertops are or are not radioactive when they have not tested them themselves.

[adirondack]

DAS wrote:

So its not PASSIVE SMOKE right ? Thats what i thought....

I guess this story shouldn't be taken for Granite?
{couldn't resist}