CLEVELAND, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study of the most popular granites used for kitchen countertops in the United States concludes that granite is safe to use in kitchens. The study, designed to determine whether radon gas sometimes released by natural stone poses any health risk, was released by the Marble Institute of America, an industry trade association, and conducted by an independent geochemistry researcher. Included in this study were 13 of the most popular types of granites used in countertop applications, representing up to 85 percent of the granite countertops sold in the United States. "This is the first time anyone has taken a comprehensive, scientific look at the array of granite actually being used in kitchens across the U.S.," said L. L. Chyi, a Ph.D. and professor of Geology and Civil Engineering at The University of Akron, Akron, OH. "Based on the testing results and EPA standards, we can conclude that the most popular granites used as countertop surfaces pose no health threat to homeowners." The issue of granite containing radon has surfaced repeatedly over the years, often fueled by manufacturers of radon detection devices and producers of synthetic stone countertops. Each time, the Marble Institute of America and several natural stone producing companies, have responded by engaging independent researchers to determine if any potential health hazard exists. Studies have consistently verified that granite countertops are safe.
