solidsurfacealliance.org Blog

First some background. Jim Hogan is the current President of the Marble Institute of America, the trade association for the stone industry. Mostly a ceremonial position, a guy named Garren holds the puppet strings, commanding a mid six digit salary. The MIA has actively been attempting to squash any discussion of granite and Radon/radiation since 1995. I found this post from the MIA on GardenWeb.com

So here we go, hold your nose. I am going to add my comments in bold.

Posted by jimhogan (My Page) on Sat, Jul 26, 08 at 19:17

I’m extremely disappointed by all the recent media attention about granite countertops and radon. What’s most upsetting to me is there simply is no reason for consumers to panic. Why? Let’s consider the facts:
• On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued statements that reaffirm that granite countertops pose no significant health risk. The statement says: “While natural minerals such as granite may occasionally emit radon gas, the levels of radon attributable to such sources are not typically high. EPA believes the principal source of radon in homes is soil gas that is drawn indoors through a natural suction process. Granite is a natural mineral formed by earth’s geology. It is mined and used to produce commercial products such as countertops. It is possible for any granite sample to contain varying concentrations of uranium that can produce radon gas. Some granite used in countertops may contribute variably to indoor radon levels. However, EPA has no reliable data to conclude that types of granite used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels.” Exactly, they have no reliable data yet, which is why everyone needs to test their granite. However, Mr. Hogan is leaving out much more in that EPA statement, selectively cherry picking his comments while ignoring the fact that despite the lack of funds to study, they are taking this issue seriously.
• The statements can be found at the EPA website, here at this link.
• Consumer Reports, America’s foremost consumer protection institute, recently conducted its own limited independent tests of granite countertops and found no evidence that granite countertops pose a health risk. They sure were limited, two granites were checked, neither were checked for radiation levels before the test. Remember, no radiation, no Radon. But you have to qualify that because if you only test for Gamma, you might possibly miss some Radon producing granites or some serious Beta or Alpha radiation emitters.In fact, none of the granite countertops tested by Consumer Reports were found to be emitting radon. According to Consumer Reports, similar findings were recently generated by other well-conducted studies of granite countertops, and those studies found that, of a large number of countertops tested, only a few samples emitted minute levels of radon. This is an absolute lie. Hogan refuses to state which studies he is relying on, but the only ones that he has been shilling for was the ridiculous article written in 1995 by Langmuir and the article written by Dr. Chyi this may. Neither article was published, indeed only the Chyi effort even remotely approaches scientific standards, while falling short.

• Beyond the EPA statements and Consumer Reports tests, countless studies over the years have found that the granite commonly used in countertops is safe to consumers. One of the most recent studies was conducted by the University of Akron. Dr. L.L. Chyi, who led this study, concluded that “Radon in countertops is not an issue.” Results of the Akron study are available on MIA’s website, www.marble-institute.com. Uhh, you mentioned one unpublished study, were are the other “countless” studies
To eliminate confusion resulting from the junk science and inconsistent testing that’s been played up in the media these past few days, the Marble Institute is working with scientists and other experts to establish universal standards for testing granite countertops for radon emissions. So a professor of Nuclear Physics at Rice University conducting Gamma Spectrometry testing of granite samples is junk science? Are Radon lab experts showing strong radiation and Radon being produced (4 pCi/L in one sample, 500 pCi/L in the other), are these engineers also doing junk science? The goal is to build a scientific consensus around testing protocols so that all research can be done consistently. Were that the case, then why did one of the scientists you claimed were on your side also submit a list of qualified experts for consideration of a Protocol formation board to another group? Could it be that he thought your trade association was not looking for the facts, but just to show that all granite was safe? Who in there right mind would allow your group to set the protocols that set the rules for the testing?

Yes, the Marble Institute of America represents granite manufacturers and, yes, we’re committed to looking out for their best interests. But we’re equally committed to looking out for the best interests of America’s consumers. That’s because we understand that is in everyone’s best interest to confirm once and for all that granite is every bit as safe as it is beautiful, durable and practical. But what about the hot granite that has been proven to exist? Why did this not get studied 14 years ago? Why not five years ago when it arose again? This time, you found out that Build Clean was going to challenge you, why did you not have that “study” published after peer review so that it would have been a truly trustworthy study?

End Quote of MIA’s Jim Hogan.

Now, the MIA is renowned for using unpublished “studies” in their marketing efforts. They hired Dr. Snyder to do a test, without having it published after peer review. Peer review, as we probably all know, is where they take a submitted study to a committee of experts who scrutinize it closely. The info must be present to allow any other interested person to reproduce the study exactly, all statements MUST be supported by footnotes to previous PUBLISHED studies, then any weak points or alternative results must be considered. Only after the study has been vigorously questioned and the committee satisfied is the study allowed to be published.

As an example, we were quoted a rate of $1,500 to reproduce the study that the MIA had Dr. Snyder do, but this time including solid surface in the samples tested. We decided that Dr. Snyder lacked the credibility required for an honest test, although the thought of turning a hired gun on it’s previous master was pretty inviting.

So, now that one understands that experts come cheap for their opinion disguised as a “study”, one can understand that if the goal is to have a puppet to make your moves, that this is the way to go.

In comparison, our side supports independent scientists like Dr. Llope, Dr. Steck, Dr. Kitto, all of whom are widely respected and above making a mortgage payment by jotting down what pleases a trade association. The studies underway(one on Radon which has been submitted for peer review and the radiation study by Dr. Llope that is still taking measurements) will be published after peer review, earning them the right to be called scientific.

Truly, in all my 50 years, I have never seen such an incompetent trade association. One wonders how it was possible that they managed to keep this covered up for so many years.