[ RadSafe ] Radioactivity in Granite Countertops NYT had an article on the topic

[Dan McCarn]

Hi Dr. P:

Yes, the New York Times quoted me on the Four Seasons Granite three years
ago (without my knowledge).

Dan ii

On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 9:26 PM, parthasarathy k s <ksparth at yahoo.co.uk>wrote:

> Dear radsafers
>
>
> A few years ago there were a few articles in newspapers on the radiation
> levels on the surface of granite counter tops. At least one of them was in
> the New York Times. "Excess" radiation levels on some geological samples
> displayed in a British Museum has led to convictions!
>
> In UK , granite containing regions are well known for high background
> radiation levels.
>
> Regards
> Parthasarathy
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: "JPreisig at aol.com" <JPreisig at aol.com>
> To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, 28 February 2012, 3:16
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Radioactivity in Granite Countertops
>
> Dear Stewart Farber,
>
>      Are these gammas from granite wimpy little gammas,  energetically
> speaking, or highly
> energetic????
>
>      Is it possible that your friend's granite counter  top has had a layer
> of plastic laminate
> applied over top of the granite????
>
>      Joe Preisig
>
>
>
> In a message dated 2/27/2012 1:41:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> SAFarber at optonline.net writes:
>
> Does  anyone know if there some types of granite that contain NO enhanced
> levels  of natural radioactivity? This has never been my experience, but
> I'm
> no  geologist.
>
>
>
> I've done studies with high-pressure ionization  chambers in many places
> showing clearly elevated levels of radioactivity  contained in granite in
> construction throughout the Northeastern US as  indicated by elevated gamma
> dose rates of 20 micro-R/hr [200 nSv/hr] or  more  [ in close proximity to
> granite walls -approx. 1 foot distant]  vs. typical background dose rates
> of
> about 8 micro-R/hr [ 80 nSv/hr]  for the area.
>
>
>
> Every HPIC measurement near granite I've made  around Boston [ at the
> Christian Science Church, South Station, Bunker Hill  Monument, steps of
> the
> MA Statehouse, granite Colonial era wharf  buildings]  or all around
> Westerly, RI [a town where almost every  building is made of granite], or
> in
> NH or Maine, or  the Harrisburg,  PA Capitol granite steps,  has shown
> about
> a doubling of background  dose rate measured with a HPIC a  foot  or so
> from
> the granite  used in construction.
>
>
>
> Another interesting measurement was of a  doubling of background dose rate
> near a large piece of Aswan red granite  from Egypt which was used to make
> a
> sarcophagus for a princess many  thousands of  years ago. This ancient
> granite ceremonial Egyptian  coffin is currently displayed in front of the
> Boston, MA Museum of  Science.
>
>
>
> All  granite mentioned  above would show  greatly elevated count rates when
> measured on contact with a standard  pancake GM like an Ludlum 44-9 or
> HP-360.
>
>
>
> However, a  friend has recently installed granite countertops which shows
> background  rad levels on contact. So has my friend purchased "real"
> granite
> with all  the  natural radioactivity it "should" contain or has she been
> cheated  of her little bit of residual elevated U-238, Th-232, and  K-40
> radioactivity from the Big  Bang?
>
>
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
>
>
>
> Stewart  Farber
>
>
>
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-- 
Dan ii

Dan W McCarn, Geologist
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