Apr 3 2008
"By its nature, granite emits radon-the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States; consumers have a right to know if the granite used in their homes is contributing to unhealthy exposure levels," says Sara Speer Selber, president of BuildClean(TM), a not-for-profit organization based in Houston, whose mission is focused on generating research on the health impacts of building materials.
BuildClean™ will be on hand during the city’s Houston Green Expo this weekend to demonstrate how radon is measured. In addition, the organization will be offering free in-home radon testing to the first 300 qualifying homeowners who sign up for an inspection by a certified, bonded technician.
BuildCleanTM seeks to determine whether using granite in indoor applications may emit harmful levels of radon over time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set an "action" limit for radon exposure at 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), but also emphasizes that any level of radon exposure carries some risk (www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html).
Radon (Rn) is an inert gas that results from the decay of uranium in granite and other natural stone. Both the Surgeon General of the U.S. and the EPA have warned consumer that radon is harmful to human health; in fact, radon is the chief cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. According to the Surgeon General, more than 20,000 Americans die of indoor-radon-related lung cancer every year.
The Gulf Coast Green Expo is free and open to the public (parking rates apply). BuildClean™’s booth is located in Exhibit Hall B at Reliant Center (Booth #303) during the following hours:
- Fri. April 4, 12:00 - 4 p.m.
- Sat. April 5, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Sun. April 6, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Sun. April 6, 2 p.m. - Educational Presentation