Just finished reading the EH&E November 21, 2008 report, Assessing Exposure to Radon and Radiation From Granite Countertops.
My one impression was that the report seemed to use statistics, i.e. averaging across sales around the country to draw conclusions. For instance page 4 of 55 says "The radon emission test results combined with the market share data indicate
that the average predicted contribution to indoor radon from all stones tested is less than 0.01 pCi/L, a concentration that is well below both the average outdoor radon concentration in the United States of 0.4 pCi/L and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) guideline for remedial activities to be undertaken of 4.0 pCi/L (EPA 1993a)." Highlighting mine.
This may Be fine, except that it may still leave
certain homeowners at risk. If we use similar logic with our current radon statistics we can say that the National average radon concentration is about 1.3 pCi/L and this would then suggest that we don't have a radon problem, Nationally.
However, as we all know we certainly have radon problems locally, and in many different states. And very significant problems at that!
My point is that, even though I don't believe that the natural stone products are a significant health threat, they still warrant some concern. We don't have all the answers just yet. We could certainly use a nationally recognized and
validated procedure for evaluation of these products. There may be some homeowners at risk? I would have liked to have seen as one of the conclusions from the above mentioned
Report that more evaluation is needed.
This is my own opinion and not that of the Department.
Regards, Bob Lewis
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From Name
Lewis, Robert K.
From Address
rolewis@STATE.PA.US