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07.24.08, 16:07 PM General Topics
14 replies
Radon/radiation in granite countertops - I am betting there will be a link with autism (belly height countertops). [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 07.24.08, 04:07 PM Flag
 

Dear UrbanBaby community,

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this is a terrifying article [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:08 PM Flag
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where is the article? another reason for home prices to fall! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:15 PM Flag
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NP: in Times home section today. Thank god we didn't do granite! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:25 PM Flag
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What did you do instead. I am getting ym counters tested next week and may need a replacement [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:34 PM Flag
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When marketing a product, one expects a bit of hype. The idea is to show that the product is the best over the competitor's line of product. That is the trade of advertisers and the history of marketing. Some tactics used to sell can be humorous or as serious as the competition between manufacturers. Marketing tactics that play on fears of the general public can be a very powerful tool. In the present day, there's a very popular angle of "green." This is prevalent everywhere in the media. So what happens when you mix a scare tactic under the guise of environmental concern? Buildclean found the answer to that question. The premise seems of the nonprofit organization seems to be admirable but the fact that the "awareness campaign" that Buildclean is currently using seems to be curiously slanted. In fact, the target seems to be the natural stone industry. When Sara Selber of BuildClean was asked how she got involved in natural stone and radon, she explained how she was approached by the owner of C&C North America, a company that produces two products – granite and a quartz product called Silestone®™. "C&C North America then recruited a quartz company called Cambria, after they learned quartz was an issue, she further explained that the two companies hired her to test quartz, granite and other surfaces for radon emission. Both companies are testing their products through BuildClean, and they contracted two labs – one in New York and one in Israel. We have looked all over the C&C website but cannot find any mention of natural stone. When ask what granites emit radon, Sara Selber said; "Not all granites emit radon or radiation. There are some that clearly do. There are some that absolutely don't. We don't know," she said. They're being set up as a non-profit, and they're funded with two large donations. The first is $250,000 from the makers of 'Silestone.' They manufacture quartz countertops, which is a direct competitor to granite. Silestone finance records show that they started out in April of 1998 with a an initial investment of $410K, made there first million in 1998, sales in 2002 was over $70M, and sales in 2006 was well over $260M. it is not hard to see that they have the money to invest $250,000 in a new advertising campaign. BuildClean is also getting money from Cambria, another quartz manufacturer. In fact, Cambria's marketing director is on BuildClean's board of directors. When asked about the funding Sara responds: I don't believe the issue is who our founders are. And I'm not going to have that debate." That answer seems to be clear enough. In a recent interview Mrs. Selber mentions teaming up with Al Gerhart who has some interest in the granite \radon scare. Al Gerhart is a carpenter whohappens to own a website called the Solid Surface Alliance .org. He educated himself, regarding materials he works with that may expose him to harmful elements." Upon further review it seems this "personality" is well known for his view of natural stone. All one has to do is look at the website to get the gist of his viewpoint. Coincidentally, there also seems to be a new business venture for Solid Surface Alliance as the website now sells Geiger counters to detect radiation… His debates have earned him quite a place online in forums discussing the subject. After a certain debate on a well known residential forum, a renowned geoscientist in the industry concluded: "Al attempts to hijack debates by choking the system with verbal diarrhea. The problem appears to be that he has a bit of knowledge about some things but not enough sense and understanding of the subjects. In that debate on the Garden Forum he threw in so many fabrications (plain made up lies) that his credibility just plummeted to zero. Anyone who operates this way (by including a number of facts to gain an element of credibility in the eyes of a generally uninformed audience, twisting facts deliberately or because of his lack of understanding, and then throwing in a number of lies) does not de [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.26.08, 05:48 PM Flag
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Thats a pretty obscure connection, people will still want countertops dont you think? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:34 PM Flag
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That would not surprise me. It really explains the rise of certain kids of disease in higher socioeconomic groups. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:41 PM Flag
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thought it was older sperm causing autism [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 04:44 PM Flag
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it is genetic, most likely, perhaps influenced by outside toxins, but in most cases it is purely genetic [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 05:00 PM Flag
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That is not true [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.24.08, 05:16 PM Flag
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Hi all, [ Reply | More
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General Topics 12.21.08, 12:58 PM Flag
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Hi All, as you can see Huligar (long winded post above)is not one of my supporters because I am active in the granite testing effort. We are conducting a Radon test this month, 18 square foot of granite in a 96 square foot room. Highest level to date was a bit over 10 pCi/L, about like smoking 1 1/2 packs a day. The birth defect risk was mentioned by Dr. Chiado, and it is a very real risk. Most at risk are women that don't know they are pregnant, for when a baby starts to form, a small change in once cell can affect the rest of the development. Scientists agree that there is no safe level of Radon or radiation. Shame on you Huligar, attempting to mislead others. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 12.21.08, 01:02 PM Flag
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Huligar. WTF? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 12.21.08, 01:15 PM Flag
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Wow. Glad I went with soapstone. My poor sister, though, owns a granite business. A good part of it is in monuments, but she also does a lot of countertops and tiles. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 12.21.08, 01:21 PM Flag
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