Your Granite Countertops are Safe

We know you will enjoy them for years to come

We care about your safety and would never sell you an unsafe product. Therefore, we want to set the record straight on the issue of radon emissions from granite and assure you the granite countertops you buy from Integrated Resources are natural, durable, beautiful and safe.

Recent media reports are needlessly misleading consumers about the safety of granite and were placed to scare you away from buying granite countertops and tiles. We know the manufacturers and suppliers of engineered stone countertops are placing many of these articles to discredit granite products, so you will buy theirs.

At the heart of this issue is whether granite poses a health risk to consumers due to radon or radiation emission from the stone. Radon is a naturally occurring gas found throughout our environment. Radon is radioactive and prolonged exposure at elevated levels in a closed environment may increase health risks. However, radon is a gas that quickly breaks down and dissipates in the air.

Many of us have radon gas in our homes due to seepage from the surrounding soil, the water supply and emissions from building materials. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the primary source of radon – by far – in any home is the soil surrounding it. If a home is properly ventilated radon concentrations drop to those commonly found outdoors. According to the government, such environmental exposure is safe.

Some, but not all, granite samples emit low levels of radon gas. The gas is present in some granite samples because granite can contain trace amounts of uranium. When uranium decays, it produces radon. Many types of granite do not emit radon at all.

Repeated independent research and research by the natural stone industries show granite countertops pose no health threat to you. Scientific studies conducted through the years have found it is extremely unlikely the granite you select for your home is emitting harmful levels of radon. Compared to other radiation sources in the home and outside, the risk to you from radioactivity or radon gas emitted from a granite countertop or tiles is practically non-existent.

One recent study tested 13 of the most popular types of granites used for countertops. These 13 granites represent about 85 percent of the granite sold for countertops in the U.S. Based on the testing and EPA standards, the scientists concluded the most popular granites used as countertop surfaces pose no health threat to homeowners.

We want you to be 100% comfortable with your decision to buy granite from us. If you have any questions about the safety of granite countertops and tiles, please let us know.