Although quartz countertops will have less to zero radon, it does not preclude granite as a "less safe" choice in kitchen countertops. Given the radiation naturally encountered through flying, walking around a city, and living your everyday life, it is not significant enough to discourage granite in the household.
As sleek “engineered stone” countertops grow in popularity, safety experts are warning that workers who handle them are at particularly high risk from an old workplace hazard — silica, the mineral tied to silicosis, a debilitating and potentially deadly lung disease.
Topping the list for healthier countertop materials is lead-free (US-made) ceramic tile, followed by solid surface products such as Corian, then engineered quartz and cultured marble. Plastic laminate and granite fall to the bottom of the ranking.
Answers. Yes, some granites and quartzes contain uranium, a radioactive element. You are safe from significant exposure to the uranium while it is locked in the granite and/or if it is present at very low levels within the installed materials.
The main downsides of quartz countertops are their price, appearance (if you desire the look of natural stone), and lack of resistance against heat damage.
No, you can't use disinfecting wipes on quartz countertops. Disinfecting wipes contain citric acid as their primary ingredient and are not diluted in any way. When you use these wipes to clean your countertop, they will weaken the seal on your countertop's surface leaving them vulnerable to discoloration.
Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn't porous like granite, it's easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free.
When quartz is quarried, cut, or polished for countertops, the crystalline silica creates airborne dust which becomes respirable, hence, respirable silica. Those tiny airborne particles can enter your lungs, creating scar tissue and can cause a number of diseases, including COPD, silicosis and lung cancer.
Both Quartz and granite release little to no radon gases. When these two materials are compared with each other, granite releases more radon than quartz. This is because granite is a natural stone and slightly porous, whereas quartz is man-made and is non-porous.
Q Quartz, such as Fossil Gray Quartz shown here, is Greenguard, LEED, and NSF certified. That means it's non-toxic and does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Since it's easy-care, you don't need harsh chemicals to maintain it. It's recyclable, and made from quartz, which is an abundant natural resource.
This scientific reality has caused worry for some homeowners, who wonder if granite installation can compromise their families' health and safety. But although it may sound alarming, numerous studies have shown that there is no real cause for concern. Granite is still very much a safe and popular choice for your home.
Radon released from granite building materials can be released over the lifetime of use but typically will be diluted by ventilation. In addition to radon, naturally occurring radioactive elements in the granite can emit small amounts of beta and gamma radiation.
Quartz is inherently eco-friendly because the natural quartz material that composes much of it comes directly from the earth. When compared to other countertops, it features a longer replacement life, and is even recyclable.
Granite isn't very porous and large quantities of it aren't typically used in most single-family homes, so radon isn't likely to escape in a significant enough quantity to cause an elevated radon level in a building, according to the National Radon Program Services at Kansas State University.
A study published in the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry in 2006 found that the radium content of red and pink granites is about three-and-a-half times higher than that of black and gray granites.
Safety & Health Practitioner
Very fine dust containing quartz, known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS), can cause serious and fatal lung diseases. Worryingly, exposures to these dusts are not being properly recognised and controlled in Britain and around the world.
Although quartz countertops will have less to zero radon, it does not preclude granite as a "less safe" choice in kitchen countertops. Given the radiation naturally encountered through flying, walking around a city, and living your everyday life, it is not significant enough to discourage granite in the household.
One made with resin is very similar to quartz, and is also considered just as safe.
Quartz is scratch-resistant, but not scratch-proof. Remember that although your quartz countertops are incredibly durable, they are not cutting boards. Never cut directly on your countertops to avoid scratching the finish and making the stone more vulnerable to staining.
Quartz is generally less expensive.
But with the exception of the cheapest granite, quartz is generally less expensive—$70 to $100 per square foot installed compared with granite's price range of $60 to $270 per square foot installed.
Clorox, whether it is Clorox wipes or the Multi-Purpose cleaning fluid, is not safe to use for cleaning and disinfecting your granite. The multi-purpose cleaner contains bleach, which is extremely harmful for granite and many other natural stones.
Yes, you can use a Magic Eraser to clean quartz. They won't scratch the surface and can even remove some imperfections you thought you had to live with. Scotch-Brite also makes some non-scratch scouring pads that work well on engineered stone.
Quartz Countertop Cleaners to Avoid
Most household cleaners you would usually use to do a quick clean with such as Windex, vinegar and Lysol wipes (some of which contain bleach) are not a good idea for quartz countertops.
Because Pine Sol does not contain harsh ingredients such as bleach and uses a minimal amount of natural ingredients, it can be used to clean quartz countertops. It's an effective, natural cleaner and disinfectant that can be used on your quartz countertops regularly.