Cleveland, OH — The Marble Institute of America, the trade association representing the natural dimension stone industry, has refuted the findings of a not-for-profit organization whose recent in-home testing concludes that potentially harmful levels of radon are emitted by granite countertop surfaces.

The MIA, whose members include granite and other natural stone suppliers, issued “an alert,” calling attention to claims made by BuildClean, a Houston-based organization that has tested radon levels in a variety of countertop surfaces.

Although BuildClean affirmed the reliability of its testing, the MIA charged that the findings cause undo alarm. The MIA also questioned the objectivity of the testing, which was funded by Cosentino and Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces.

“The issue of granite containing radon has surfaced repeatedly over the years,” said Gary Distelhorst, CEO of the MIA. “The origins of these concerns [emanate] from manufacturers of radon detection devices and competing synthetic countertop materials. We are saddened that companies who offer competing products feel the only way they can compete is by attempting to create groundless panic.”

However, Sara Speer Selber, president of BuildClean, defended the validity of the testing, noting it was based on inspections by certified and bonded technicians, and was conducted “by a science advisory panel of leaders in their field.”

“By its nature, granite emits radon – the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.,” Selber said. “Consumers have a right to know if the granite in their homes is contributing to exposure.”

Selber added that both Cosentino and Cambria voluntarily subjected their products to the initiative.

“We’re not saying that granite is a bad thing. It’s the radon that we are concerned about,” she said.

Distelhorst said that a new MIA study conducted on 13 of the most popular granites used for kitchen countertops concluded “that granite is a safe material for use in kitchens [and] is an insignificant contributor to radon levels.

“We intend to aggressively defend the safety of natural stone,” he said.

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