Does a Quartz Countertop Have Uranium?

Uranium

• Uranium is a radioactive element that occurs naturally in varying degrees in all types of rocks. It emits radiation. When it decays, it creates a radioactive gas called radon that can leak out of the rock and into the surrounding air. Radon can become a serious health hazard. Homes that are built on certain types of rock can be exposed to enough radon to be dangerous. Because of this danger, some people are concerned about using countertops made out of natural rocks such as quartz.

Quartz-Rich Rocks and Uranium

• Granite rocks contain higher levels of uranium than any other kind of rock. All quartz-rich rocks such as granite tend to have more uranium in them than other types of rocks that do not have quartz, according to the Maryland Geological Survey. Furthermore, 13 percent of all of the world's uranium comes from quartz-pebble conglomerate rocks, according to Delta Uranium.com. So, on the surface level, it seems that some reason exists for concern about quartz countertops.

Quartz and Uranium

• However, the fact that uranium is most often found in quartz-bearing rocks does not mean that uranium is actually found in quartz itself. Because of its size, electrical charge and other properties, uranium cannot form concentrations in minerals such as quartz, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. While uranium is found in rocks such as granite that also contain quartz, it is actually found in the other minerals associated with the quartz, and not the quartz itself.

Conclusions

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that no evidence shows that granite countertops raise indoor radiation levels by measurable amounts. Because granite, containing many quartz-associated minerals, will have more uranium than pure quartz, a pure quartz countertop will have less uranium than a granite one. Therefore, a quartz countertop will in all likelihood have little uranium and pose no health hazard from radiation.