Does Quartz Countertops Emit Radiation

If you re asking yourself do quartz countertops emit radon you re certainly not alone.

Does quartz countertops emit radiation.

When you re weighing quartz countertops pros and cons it s a common question. It is best to have a pro fabricate and install your countertop. Granite and quartz are very heavy materials and even a relatively small 36 inch countertop weighs close to 100 pounds. However allegations that granite countertops are radioactive and can emit radon gas are not new.

Turning to the hazard of being exposed to gamma radiation we know that uranium thorium and potassium in natural rocks emit gamma radiation. Identifying radiation in granite countertops. A single study is not definitive of course but it does suggest that radon from quartz countertops is an insignificant hazard. But i have become aware that granite comprises quartz.

Use the radiation dose calculator to estimate your yearly dose from sources of ionizing radiation. If you do choose to do it yourself granite and quartz countertops are installed in the same fashion. So are granite countertops a real risk. Due to my concern about the radiation that granite emits i decided to pursue quartz countertops.

Here are some frequently asked questions about radon and the risks associated with granite. Experts agree that most granite countertops emit some radon and even other types of radiation. Radiation concentrations can only be measured using sophisticated portable instruments or with laboratory equipment. 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.

On checking with some of the quartz countertop companies i was informed that quartz does contain some radioactive materials. At this time a generally accepted radiation testing protocol for countertops does not exist and neither imported nor domestic granite products require radiation testing. 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. But the extent and significance of the problem is unknown.

The question is whether they do so at levels that can impact cancer risk.