Do granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radon? That question continues to get attention, as evidenced by a front-page story in the Home section of the July 24, 2008, edition of The New York Times. “What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?” the headline inquires ominously in the story by Kate Murphy.

We reported on this very subject last month in Buzzword: Radon, which noted that there’s not much evidence that granite countertops release harmful amounts of this potentially dangerous gas into homes. Radon remains the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country.

We recently tested 11 do-it-yourself radon test kits. Look for our report and ratings of these kits in the September 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, on sale and online in early August.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Learn how to deal with radon.