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Countless homes have been spruced up with granite countertops as they've grown in popularity, so has concern they could be giving off dangerous radon gas. In Depth tonight: the latest findings on radon and granite countertops.
"We had the MRI and the MRI showed that it, they believe it was lung cancer," says Heather Marchetto.
The diagnosis came out of the blue. She'd kicked her cigarette habit years ago.
"Actually my sister called and said, did you ever think about the radon test," added Marchetto's husband Kevin.
Radon is an odorless gas caused by uranium breaking down in the soil. It's measured in something called pico curies per liter. 16 months earlier, a test at Marchetto's Claverack home came back with a reading of 14, way over a reading of four which the feds say is the safety limit.
Fixing the problem usually means installing a ventilation system in the basement.
"Once you take care of cigarette smoking, radon exposure, because it's a natural component of rock and soil in some places that gets into houses, is a significant risk factor," says Dr. Richard Daines, New York State Health Commissioner.
A significant risk factor for lung cancer.
"It can tear the tissues up, the radiation that it puts out is very damaging," says cancer specialist, Dr. Howard Schlossberg.
Dr. Schlossberg explains radon, in combination with smoking, raises the lung cancer risk.
You can buy a radon test cannister through the state or at a hardware store. Place it in the basement for a few days collecting air, then seal it and send it to a testing lab. The whole thing costs less than $10.
But that tests the basement air, not the air around granite countertops. Granite after all, comes from the ground where radon starts.
While a geiger counter like device goes wild when near a granite sample, it's not measuring radon.
"That detector is not a radon detector," says Dr. Michael Kitto with the New York State Health Department.
Dr. Kitto says the clicking does not necessarily mean trouble. He's with the New York State Wadsworth Labs and studied more than 40 types of granite from around the world.
He says that device would click away if put next to cement because it's measuring another kind of radiation from the ground but not one for concern.
For radon, Kitto says, you have to test the air.
"The easiest way is to go in with a radon detector and measure near the surface in the kitchen. Measure the kitchen air, measure on the surface of the counter top," adds Kitto.
So far his research has found one granite sample giving off significantly higher radon levels than others.
But, he says, since the air exchange in the kitchen is much greater than in the basement, radon is naturally swept out of the air, reducing your risk. He says, you'd have to sleep on the counter over a long period of time to see a health risk.
A new study, paid for by the Marble Institute of America, examined what it says are the 13 most popular granites. It finds the granites are insignificant contributors to radon levels in the home and that most of them are safe.
It blames concern on competing synthetic countertop materials and manufacturers of radon detection devices.
"The vast majority of the granites are not likely to be a significant contributor to the radon in your house," says Dr. Kitto.
"Vast majority" is not the same as "all."
So if you are still concerned, have the air tested.
In fact, testing your home for radon every few years is recommended by the State Health Department because foundations can shift allowing a route in for radon.
For more information on radon, how to get a radon testing kit and where to find companies doing remediation, visit this page on the Environmental Protection Agencey's website..
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