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Could Your Granite Countertops Kill You?

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Real Estate Agent with 100 Plus Realty LLC

Wow...Radon Gas has certainly come onto my radar lately.  About a week ago my mother sent me an article from the local newspaper in my hometown of Steamboat Springs, Colorado that was rather disturbing...especially since my father was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed several years ago.  If you are interested you can read The article "Radon Lurks in City Homes"

So imagine my surprise when tonight while surfing the web I cam across the article published in the New York times titled "What's lurking in your Countertops" about Granite Countertops and the elevated radiation and radon gas emissions coming from certain types of Granite.  Can you believe that people are actually pulling out their expensive granite tops now for fear of cancer....yikes!!!

 

 

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Dave Woodson
Dave Woodson - Chesterton, IN
Not the Average Agent

I am going concrete, but what the heck I am sure there is an issue with that at some point

Jul 26, 2008 03:44 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Dave - I have Formica laminate in my home that looks like granite and actually in my opinion is easier to keep clean and keep in good shape.  I have lived in several homes with Granite counter-tops and after having lived with Granite for many years...it really lost its appeal to me...concrete is a very big trend right now...I wonder how hard it is to maintain?

You should do a post on your blog about your experience with concrete tops ;-)

Jul 26, 2008 03:49 PM
Greg Evans
Coldwell Banker Gundaker - Wentzville, MO

That is very interesting, but I wonder if someone tested EVERY material if there wouldn't be similar findings with quartz, glass, silica, etc.  I also always wonder, if the radon gas is vented outside, but the gas tends to sink to the ground, what are the outside levels like near homes that have been mitigated...where does the gas go?

--Greg

Jul 26, 2008 03:50 PM
Karen Monsour
Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach - Fort Lauderdale, FL
REALTOR, SSRS - Sells FL Waterfront, Short Sale Expert!

You can get a radon test kit for about $39.00 at Lowe's etc...Most of them are not an issue...the exotic ones...maybe...Custom tile is the way to go...I'm sure my contractor friend will like this article... (smile).

Jul 26, 2008 03:51 PM
Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Kristi~ Radon is not something to be taken lightly.  It's invisible gas IS deadly and people need to take it seriously!  Lots of homes have high levels of Radon in them and it IS a bigger health, problem, more than most realize, and it CAN fixed, you just have to adress it!

Jul 26, 2008 03:51 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Greg- All good questions and as REALTORS we can all benefit from learning more about this.  You can learn more information about your state of MO and Radon Gas here

Happy reading :-)

Jul 26, 2008 03:58 PM
Raylene Lewis
Century 21 Beal, Inc. - College Station, TX

This is about the 10th post I've seen on this topic! It is really surprising and more people need to check their homes out and protect themselves.

Jul 26, 2008 03:58 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Karen - Thanks for the great advice about the testing kits

Jul 26, 2008 03:59 PM
Pam Winterbauer
Pam Winterbauer Real Estate - San Ramon, CA
"Providing Blue Ribbon Service"

Kristi.....interesting article.  Who would have figured that a natural stone can cause that much problems.  Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Jul 26, 2008 03:59 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Vickie - I agree...having lost someone I loved very much to lung cancer and then reading the article about the levels of Radon in the community that I was rasied in was a little sad for me ;-(

Jul 26, 2008 04:01 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Kristi,

This is something I did not think we would have to think about. It is so popular, and looks great, and the funny thing is that it was considered safe just because it is a natural stone, whiole sile storne is not 100% natural.

Jul 26, 2008 04:02 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Raylene - I am happy that it is making the rounds...the more people that are aware of the issue...the more precautions can be taken to protect ourselves.  The deaths caused by this was staggering to me...I had no idea how serious of a problem this truly is.

I remember my husband telling me that his grandfather dies of lung cancer and never smoked a day in his life..he lived in Illinois in an area that I am sure has high levels of Radon gas....interesting.

Jul 26, 2008 04:04 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Jon - Thanks for stopping by and commenting.  According to the article some natural stones are more of a concern than others...i guess in the future it may be prudent to have your granite slab choice checked for radiation and radon levels before having it installed in your home.

Jul 26, 2008 04:06 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Pam - Iam not sure that any ones preferences in Granite choices will change....but I will certainly think twice before installing it in my homes in the future just in case.  Having grown up in a community and home that most likely had very, very high levels of radon gas...I may be more susceptible to future problems than most.

Here in Florida, according to the EPA maps...we seem to be in the lowest category for radon gas...you should check out the map...most of the middle and northern states of the US are at very high threat levels from Radon Exposure and probably do not know about it.

From reading the articles...testing and mediation seems very inexspensive considering the potential risks.  I am planning to make a move back to the mountains at some point and will make it a priority to have any future home purchase checked for radon gas levels before making any purchase.

Jul 26, 2008 04:11 PM
Teresa Harris
Lake Real Estate, LLC - Denver, NC
Denver . Lake Norman . Charlotte

Kristi, don't tell me this... We just had granite put in our kitchen less than one year ago. I guess I need to get them checked.... Thanks anyway!

Jul 26, 2008 05:48 PM
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