According to the New York Times, they may contain uranium:
“‘It’s not that all granite is dangerous,’ said Stanley Liebert, the quality assurance director at CMT Laboratories in Clifton Park, N.Y., who took radiation measurements at Dr. Sugarman’s house. ‘But I’ve seen a few that might heat up your Cheerios a little.’â€
I knew there was a reason I avoided granite countertops (besides the cost, of course :) )