December 30, 2008 | Recommend this Article »

Safety of granite countertops

Largest study of granite countertops finds no stones that pose health threat

The most comprehensive scientific study of health threats from granite countertops did not find a single stone that poses any health risk. Quantities of radon and radiation emitted by stones included in the analysis all fell well below average outdoor background levels that are commonly found in the United States.

Scientists conducted more than 400 tests of 115 different varieties of granite countertops, including stones cited in media reports as being potentially problematic. The stones tested include types of granite that comprise approximately 80 percent of the annual U.S. market share for granite countertops, based on the most recent market data available.

An executive summary with the testing results and a list of the stones is available on the website of the Marble Institute.