The rumor that natural marble has radioactivity often misleads consumers. However, the national standard "Radionuclide Limit of Building Materials" carries out actual measurement data of radioactivity in natural marble, which shows that the radium-226, thorium-232, and potassium-40 in natural marble have a very low specific activity and hardly have adverse effect on the humans.

In 2013, the authoritative departments of China Stone Association, National Stone Quality Supervision and Inspection Center as well as National Stone Standardization Technical Committee issued a circular "No Radioactive Damage to Human Beings from Natural Marble Products" to the industry and consumers to guide consumers to consume properly.

When choosing stone products, many people are concerned about the rumor that "natural marble is harmful to human beings", which may affect their decisions on whether or not buy stone products.

Q1: Is natural marble radioactive?

I like the natural color of stone. However, I have heard that natural marble is radioactive, so I am afraid to choose it as decoration materials. Is there any radiation in the marble? Will it be harmful?

A1: Natural marble is more and more widely used in interior decoration. People are most worried about the radioactivity of natural marble. In fact, consumers do not need to worry about that. Natural marble belongs to sedimentary rock, which is mainly composed of carbonate minerals. From the analysis of the geological process of natural marble formation, its formation is not directly related to radioactive substances, so it has no radioactive harmful to the humans. Marble and ceramic tiles are classified into three categories according to their radioactivity levels: A-type products can be used on any occasion, including office buildings and family houses; B-type products have higher radioactivity than A-type products, so it cannot be used for interior and exterior decoration of architectures, but can be used for interior and exterior decoration of all other architectures; C-type products have higher radioactivity than A-type and B-type products, and can only be used for exterior decoration of buildings. Natural marble belongs to A-type, that is to say, natural marble will not be harmful to the human beings, and can be used in any place at ease.

Radioactivity Detection of Marble and Tile in CCTV ‘Consumer Advocates’ Column

Q2: Are there relevant standards for natural marble in China?

I want to buy natural marble for the decoration of the living room floor and bathroom walls. I want to know if there is relevant standards indicating the radioactivity of nature stone.

A2: Of course yes, like JC/T 202-2011 ‘Natural Marble Waste Material’ industry standard and GB/T 19766-2005 ‘Natural Marble Building Plate’. Radioactivity of natural marble is tested by the authoritative department of the state. The specific activity of radionuclides radium-226, thorium-232 and potassium-40 are far lower than those of A-type in the standard. Therefore, the relevant standards issued by the Ministry of Housing and Construction also make it clear that natural marble does not need radioactivity testing and does not need to issue a radioactivity detection report. At the same time, the State Administration of Quality and Quarantine does not need radioactivity testing for entry-exit natural marble.

Q3: Where can natural marble be used?

I'm currently choosing materials for the ground of my house. The texture of natural marble have great colors. I want to know which areas natural marble can be used?

A3: In modern family decoration, natural marble is used more and more. The application scope of natural marble is also widely used in ground, walls, mesa, stairs, jigsaw puzzle, television background wall, doors and windows, various shapes, stone furniture and so on. Natural marble has a variety of varieties, natural texture, diverse patterns and durable. In addition, the size of the marble sheet is relatively large, which can be cut and combined at will according to the user requirements. It achieves various effects through different colors and textures, which is the reason why many consumers love it. Besides, the raw materials of natural marble come from our nature. Each piece is unique and cannot be copied. It only enters our living space after cutting, polishing and splicing. It does not need high-temperature condition and other complex processes, so it is a low-carbon environmental protection material.

CCTV ‘Consumer Advocates’ has made special investigations and reports on radioactive problems of stone and ceramic tiles and submitted relevant samples for testing. The results showed that the radioactivity of natural marble accorded with the national class A radioactivity index, and no samples were found to be harmful to human health. Consumers could use it safely.

In 2012, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction revised the contents of radioactivity in the document ‘Code for the Control of Indoor Environmental Pollution in Civil Construction Engineering’ (2001), and made it clear that natural marble is not harmful, and there is no need to issue a radioactivity detection report. In 2013, the Chinese Stone Association issued the ‘White Paper on Natural Marble in China’ (2013). It clearly pointed out that natural stone is a green and environmentally friendly material, which has no harm to human health.

From other point of view, as decoration material, stone make the relationship between human beings and nature more close. According to ‘the Compendium of Materia Medica’, natural stone has the following functions: nourishing the five internal organs and reserving blood vessels. Coral, crystal and other semi-precious stones can protect the skeleton and balance the pH’s in humans. In the Book of Changes, the stone is a combination of five elements, including Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The energy of stone will supplement the absence of five elements according to different people.

Many studies have shown that the radioactivity index of stone is lower than other construction materials such as wood, ceramic tiles, etc. And natural stone has no negative effect on human health, and it is even beneficial to human beings.