Bruce Breedlove
08-09-2008, 02:20 AM
This is a press release (from the Marble Institute of America) rather than a copyrighted news article so I hope it is OK for me to quote it in its entirety. If not feel free to delete the offending portions.
Professional Scientific Organization Criticizes New York Times Article (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/professional-scientific-organization-criticizes-new-york-times-article,499146.shtml)
Posted : Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:01:26 GMT
Author : Marble Institute of America
Category : Press Release
CLEVELAND, Aug. 8 OH-Marble-Institute
CLEVELAND, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Health Physics Society (HPS) this week questioned the science and methodology behind a recent New York Times article on radon levels in granite countertops.
HPS, a scientific and professional organization whose members specialize in radiation safety, called the radon levels cited in the article "very odd." The July 24 New York Times article, "What's Lurking in Your Countertop?," reported that a radon measurement contractor stated that exposure from granite countertops in the kitchen of a summer home in upstate New York were ten times higher than in other areas of the residence and attributed the elevated levels to uranium in the granite countertops. The article also reported that radon levels in the kitchen of the home were reported to be 100pCi/L, compared to basement levels of 6pCi/L.
In a special bulletin posted on its Web site, HPS strongly took issue with those numbers, as follows: Assuming a relatively tight house with an air change rate of 0.5/hr and using average measured dose rates from granite countertop slabs, the estimated radon concentration in kitchen air would be 0.13pCi/L," HPS said. "This concentration is less than one-eighth the average radon gas concentration in U.S. homes and is well below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guideline of 4pCi/L.
"There are some alerting factors when we see measurements and statements like this," the bulletin continued. "First, investigation determined that the measurement procedure was not valid. The procedure used by the contractor was not appropriate (as per EPA radon measurement methods) and did not provide a real idea of the amount of radon in the ambient kitchen air."
"Second, even if the measurement had been valid, one measurement result based on one type of granite countertop in one particular home is not an indication of radon exposure in any other kitchen with a granite countertop. What is needed is to measure many types of granite. So some members of the Health Physics Society did."
"It isn't surprising that granite emits radiation," the bulletin said. "So do other items in our households. The amount of radiation emitted from granite can vary depending on the amount of natural uranium and/or thorium concentration."
The HPS special bulletin reaffirms what a growing number of respected experts, as well as respected scientific research, have also concluded: consumers can be confident about the safety of granite countertops in their homes. Largely because of the New York Times article and similar media reports, granite and radon have become a confusing and emotional issue for consumers, many of whom are afraid to install granite countertops in their homes or are worried about the countertops they may already have. Yet -- according to some of the most noted authorities on granite, radon and risk -- their concerns are unfounded. The bottom line, they agree, is this: When it comes to countertops, the science proves that there is no reason for consumers to make health issues a factor in whether they choose granite.
For additional information, and to read the full bulletin and letter from the President of the Health Physics Society to the New York Times about the article on radon in countertops, go to Health Physics Society (http://www.hps.org).
About the Marble Institute of America
For over 60 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural dimension stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world.
Below is an excerpt from the HPS President's letter to NYT. He closes his letter with a recommendation that I made on another post - spend your money and energy reducing other sources of radon in the home.
It isn’t a surprise that some granite emits radiation. So do other items in our households. The amount of radiation emitted from granite can vary depending on the amount of natural uranium and/or thorium concentration.
What is surprising is this 100 pCi/L result and what was missing from the article is that the measurement process was not valid for the determination of ambient radon air concentration in the kitchen. Obviously, one measurement in one house does not mean everyone should start removing their granite countertops.
Granite countertop external dose rate measurements that have been reported are about one and a half times greater than background dose rate measurements (or about 20 microroentgen/h). When one goes through the calculations, determining the amount of uranium in the countertop from this measurement and the amount of radon emanating from this), we find an average kitchen ambient radon concentration of 0.13 pCi/L, less than one-thirtieth of the EPA recommended limit and one-eighth of the natural ambient radon concentration in households across the United States.
. . .
However, it would be more effective in terms of risk reduction to take steps to mitigate radon concentrations throughout the home. The cost of such mitigation would likely be less than 10% of the cost of replacing kitchen countertops and would very likely result in a much greater overall risk reduction.
I think I have figured out how Stanley Liebert was able to measure a radon concentration of 100 pCi/L in the kitchen with granite countertops. If you watch the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD0ln4zxMK0) of the CBS Early Show clip, at around the 3:00 mark Mr. Liebert is demonstrating how to use a radon test kit. The camera cuts away but Mr. Liebert is clearly covering a charcoal canister with a plastic dome. The entire assembly sits on a slab of granite. His instructions are, "This essentially is a test kit that the homeowner can buy. Essentially you install it, leave it for 3 to 4 days with a bowl over it. Essentially you close it back up." Host, "Oh, there's like charcoal or something like that? You put the lid on. You send it to a lab like yours and you can find out." Liebert, "Precisely." Host, "Wow! That's really something."
Using that setup he is NOT measuring the radon concentration in the kitchen. He is measuring the radon concentration inside the dome. This is the epitome of junk science. In my opinion, for anyone to go on a national TV show and spread this kind of junk science is laughable.
The compeditors of the granite industry have hired none other than Paul Harvey to spread their misinformation:
Paul Harvey Misleads Consumers on Radon and Granite (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIF4SLVTHQI&feature=related)
Tisk, tisk, tisk.
Professional Scientific Organization Criticizes New York Times Article (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/professional-scientific-organization-criticizes-new-york-times-article,499146.shtml)
Posted : Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:01:26 GMT
Author : Marble Institute of America
Category : Press Release
CLEVELAND, Aug. 8 OH-Marble-Institute
CLEVELAND, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Health Physics Society (HPS) this week questioned the science and methodology behind a recent New York Times article on radon levels in granite countertops.
HPS, a scientific and professional organization whose members specialize in radiation safety, called the radon levels cited in the article "very odd." The July 24 New York Times article, "What's Lurking in Your Countertop?," reported that a radon measurement contractor stated that exposure from granite countertops in the kitchen of a summer home in upstate New York were ten times higher than in other areas of the residence and attributed the elevated levels to uranium in the granite countertops. The article also reported that radon levels in the kitchen of the home were reported to be 100pCi/L, compared to basement levels of 6pCi/L.
In a special bulletin posted on its Web site, HPS strongly took issue with those numbers, as follows: Assuming a relatively tight house with an air change rate of 0.5/hr and using average measured dose rates from granite countertop slabs, the estimated radon concentration in kitchen air would be 0.13pCi/L," HPS said. "This concentration is less than one-eighth the average radon gas concentration in U.S. homes and is well below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guideline of 4pCi/L.
"There are some alerting factors when we see measurements and statements like this," the bulletin continued. "First, investigation determined that the measurement procedure was not valid. The procedure used by the contractor was not appropriate (as per EPA radon measurement methods) and did not provide a real idea of the amount of radon in the ambient kitchen air."
"Second, even if the measurement had been valid, one measurement result based on one type of granite countertop in one particular home is not an indication of radon exposure in any other kitchen with a granite countertop. What is needed is to measure many types of granite. So some members of the Health Physics Society did."
"It isn't surprising that granite emits radiation," the bulletin said. "So do other items in our households. The amount of radiation emitted from granite can vary depending on the amount of natural uranium and/or thorium concentration."
The HPS special bulletin reaffirms what a growing number of respected experts, as well as respected scientific research, have also concluded: consumers can be confident about the safety of granite countertops in their homes. Largely because of the New York Times article and similar media reports, granite and radon have become a confusing and emotional issue for consumers, many of whom are afraid to install granite countertops in their homes or are worried about the countertops they may already have. Yet -- according to some of the most noted authorities on granite, radon and risk -- their concerns are unfounded. The bottom line, they agree, is this: When it comes to countertops, the science proves that there is no reason for consumers to make health issues a factor in whether they choose granite.
For additional information, and to read the full bulletin and letter from the President of the Health Physics Society to the New York Times about the article on radon in countertops, go to Health Physics Society (http://www.hps.org).
About the Marble Institute of America
For over 60 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world's leading information resource and advocate for the natural dimension stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world.
Below is an excerpt from the HPS President's letter to NYT. He closes his letter with a recommendation that I made on another post - spend your money and energy reducing other sources of radon in the home.
It isn’t a surprise that some granite emits radiation. So do other items in our households. The amount of radiation emitted from granite can vary depending on the amount of natural uranium and/or thorium concentration.
What is surprising is this 100 pCi/L result and what was missing from the article is that the measurement process was not valid for the determination of ambient radon air concentration in the kitchen. Obviously, one measurement in one house does not mean everyone should start removing their granite countertops.
Granite countertop external dose rate measurements that have been reported are about one and a half times greater than background dose rate measurements (or about 20 microroentgen/h). When one goes through the calculations, determining the amount of uranium in the countertop from this measurement and the amount of radon emanating from this), we find an average kitchen ambient radon concentration of 0.13 pCi/L, less than one-thirtieth of the EPA recommended limit and one-eighth of the natural ambient radon concentration in households across the United States.
. . .
However, it would be more effective in terms of risk reduction to take steps to mitigate radon concentrations throughout the home. The cost of such mitigation would likely be less than 10% of the cost of replacing kitchen countertops and would very likely result in a much greater overall risk reduction.
I think I have figured out how Stanley Liebert was able to measure a radon concentration of 100 pCi/L in the kitchen with granite countertops. If you watch the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD0ln4zxMK0) of the CBS Early Show clip, at around the 3:00 mark Mr. Liebert is demonstrating how to use a radon test kit. The camera cuts away but Mr. Liebert is clearly covering a charcoal canister with a plastic dome. The entire assembly sits on a slab of granite. His instructions are, "This essentially is a test kit that the homeowner can buy. Essentially you install it, leave it for 3 to 4 days with a bowl over it. Essentially you close it back up." Host, "Oh, there's like charcoal or something like that? You put the lid on. You send it to a lab like yours and you can find out." Liebert, "Precisely." Host, "Wow! That's really something."
Using that setup he is NOT measuring the radon concentration in the kitchen. He is measuring the radon concentration inside the dome. This is the epitome of junk science. In my opinion, for anyone to go on a national TV show and spread this kind of junk science is laughable.
The compeditors of the granite industry have hired none other than Paul Harvey to spread their misinformation:
Paul Harvey Misleads Consumers on Radon and Granite (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIF4SLVTHQI&feature=related)
Tisk, tisk, tisk.