Does Quartz Countertops Emit Radiation

It is best to have a pro fabricate and install your countertop.

Does quartz countertops emit radiation.

Identifying radiation in granite countertops. However you will find that quartz countertops are actually man made and although they consist of 90 quartz the rest of the countertop is composed of resins polymers and various types of pigments. A single study is not definitive of course but it does suggest that radon from quartz countertops is an insignificant hazard. So are granite countertops a real risk.

Turning to the hazard of being exposed to gamma radiation we know that uranium thorium and potassium in natural rocks emit gamma radiation. On checking with some of the quartz countertop companies i was informed that quartz does contain some radioactive materials. If you re asking yourself do quartz countertops emit radon you re certainly not alone. When you re weighing quartz countertops pros and cons it s a common question.

Use the radiation dose calculator to estimate your yearly dose from sources of ionizing radiation. Identifying the presence and concentration of radioactive elements in each specific granite countertop requires sophisticated instruments. But i have become aware that granite comprises quartz. Here are some frequently asked questions about radon and the risks associated with granite.

People love granite countertops though some may worry that it will emit radon a colorless odorless radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of rocks and natural stones. The question is whether they do so at levels that can impact cancer risk. There has been a lot of talk about radon and quartz countertops lately and you ll want to be sure that you and your family will be safe before investing your hard earned money into a new countertop. Radiation concentrations can only be measured using sophisticated portable instruments or with laboratory equipment.

They have been raised periodically mostly by manufacturers and distributors of competing countertop materials as well as the manufacturers of radon detection devices. However allegations that granite countertops are radioactive and can emit radon gas are not new. But the extent and significance of the problem is unknown. Granite and quartz are very heavy materials and even a relatively small 36 inch countertop weighs close to 100 pounds.

At this time a generally accepted radiation testing protocol for countertops does not exist and neither imported nor domestic granite products require radiation testing.