Comments on: Granite Countertops Emit Radon

By: Granite

Granite — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:06:36 +0000

Very interesting post you wrote. Glad I have stumbled upon it. Cheers!

By: New York Renovator

New York Renovator — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:19:22 +0000

[...] was a flurry of news reports in July and August, claiming that granite countertops emit radon. I blogged about it, too. Besides, granite is THE most expensive countertop you can buy (unless you want gold plate). I [...]

By: S. Hart

S. Hart — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:58:26 +0000

Thanks for this important information. Several years ago a friend re-designed her kitchen and tore up the laminate. Instead of laying granite or formica, she used tile pieces to create a mosaic pattern in the surface. It was beautiful, but not everyone would have the patience to do something like this.

I’ve been thinking about doing a post about mosaics on my blog, The Artist’s Muse, at http://www.sharonahart.blogspot.com perhaps this is just the impulse to get me writing! Thanks!

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:21:51 +0000

Thanks, Mrs. Mecomber. I certainly understand and respect that you will make your own decisions when it comes to your family and your home. The MIA just wants people to have all of the available information on this issue. We’ll share this with WIVB-TV also.

By: Mrs. Mecomber

Mrs. Mecomber — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:36:55 +0000

Hello Allison, and thanks for taking the time to comment. Just for your information, this is not a sensationalist blogger news scoop- I found this story from the Buffalo news, WIVB-TV. So maybe they should be informed also?

As a homeowner and mom, I will honestly say that I don’t give one whit for EPA guidelines and the lowest possible rate for human safety. I’m a mom and there is NO WAY I would ever knowingly install anything that gave off any toxic gases. I’m pretty angry about all the lead paint, asbestos, formaldehyde, and other junk dumped into my home in the past, by dufuses who probably followed EPA guidelines but not their consciences. Just my two cents.

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:09:57 +0000

We understand why people are alarmed by this story, but the Marble Institute of America wants to assure people that the granite most commonly used in U.S. countertops is safe. In fact, the highest radon emissions ever reported in scientific studies are still lower than the EPA’s guidelines. Unfortunately, much of the confusion is being created by inconsistent methodologies used in measuring radon emissions from granite countertops. The MIA is working to help develop testing standards to eliminate the inconsistencies.

Allison Robino, Cohn & Wolfe on behalf of the Marble Institute of America

By: Ethan Nobles

Ethan Nobles — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:20:51 +0000

We went with stone tile, too.

After reading this warning about granite, I’m glad we kept away from that stuff!

By: heidi

heidi — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:04:13 +0000

Well I guess it is a good thing that we put stone tile countertops in instead. I have always admired the granite though and it is very scary that they might be so dangerous!

By: Mrs. Mecomber

Mrs. Mecomber — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:38:35 +0000

Theresa, the concrete countertops are sealed after they are installed. Some people like them because they can be etched or stamped with designs, and tinted with pigment.

I don’t like them. I’d rather have solid surface or just plain old, durable laminate.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:55:20 +0000

Mrs. M., concrete countertops? Wouldn’t that be difficult to sanitize because of the pores? Oh, I’m way, way behind in household upgrades…