Granite countertops == Lung Cancer?

edited August 2008 in Housing Bubble
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garde ... 0&emc=eta1
SHORTLY before Lynn Sugarman of Teaneck, N.J., bought her summer home in Lake George, N.Y., two years ago, a routine inspection revealed it had elevated levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. So she called a radon measurement and mitigation technician to find the source.

"He went from room to room," said Dr. Sugarman, a pediatrician. But he stopped in his tracks in the kitchen, which had richly grained cream, brown and burgundy granite countertops. His Geiger counter indicated that the granite was emitting radiation at levels 10 times higher than those he had measured elsewhere in the house.

Some granite has more uranium than others.

Comments

  • Alan wrote:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?ex=1217822400&en=c867b0ca78bbcdd0&ei=5070&emc=eta1
    SHORTLY before Lynn Sugarman of Teaneck, N.J., bought her summer home in Lake George, N.Y., two years ago, a routine inspection revealed it had elevated levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. So she called a radon measurement and mitigation technician to find the source.

    "He went from room to room," said Dr. Sugarman, a pediatrician. But he stopped in his tracks in the kitchen, which had richly grained cream, brown and burgundy granite counter tops. His Geiger counter indicated that the granite was emitting radiation at levels 10 times higher than those he had measured elsewhere in the house.

    Some granite has more uranium than others.
    _____________________________________________________

    I had a house in Connecticut with about 10Xs the Radon level in my lower level......after the panic I discovered the following....

    1) To harm me I would have to live in the house continuously for about 70 years...and spend that 70 years on the lower level .....I sold my House to a Dr. with full disclosure....I found out later that he never even bothered to put in the $1500 vent system that I had paid him upfront for at the closing.

    This whole radon thing is outrageous ...I would also note that the solution is simple good ventilation....Which most kitchens and baths have.
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