More on Radon in Granite Countertops

What’s the latest news on radon in granite countertops? Recently, WCCO, a CBS affliliate in Minnesota, broadcast an investigative report to follow up on the initial wave of media coverage on this topic, which created an avalanche of concern that prompted responses from the U.S. EPA, the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists and the Marble Institute, to name just a few.

On WCCO’s website Terri Gruca reports:

Granite is the rock of choice for many homeowners. It’s durable, virtually scratch resistant and never fades, but there’s a side of this stone you may not know.

"We found some materials that had radon-generating potential," said Dr. Daniel Steck, a physics professor at St. John’s University. Steck heads the Minnesota Radon Project and has been running radon tests for years.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It’s a naturally occurring gas found in rock, soil and water. So it only makes sense you might find it in granite. Granite, like other kinds of rocks and soils, contains some naturally occurring radioactive elements.

Click here to view the entire WCCO broadcast, featuring Ms. Gruca and Dr. Steck.

Click here to view our home radon test kits.