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Many schools and primary education centers Australian Capital Territory are closed on Friday after Asbestos found in color Sand used for Children‘S Art And sensory play. At least one school in Brisbane has also been closed due to possible exposure.
On Thursday, WorkSafe ACT issued a contamination notice after laboratory testing confirmed traces of chrysotile, a type of asbestos, in Cadink decorative sand.
This follows recall notices by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for Educational Colors Rainbow Sand (1.3 kg), Creatistics Colored Sand (1 kg) and Cadink Sand (1.3 kg) in various colours. This was due to a different type of asbestos, tremolite.
The recalled sand was manufactured in China and sold by a number of Australian retailers including Officeworks and Woolworths.
Parents will naturally be concerned about children’s exposure to asbestos, which has been banned in Australia since 2003. But the risks in this case are less. Here’s what you need to know – and how to get rid of contaminated sand safely.
What was found in the sand?
There are six different types of asbestos. All are dangerous.
Information about which variant was found in these sand products varies depending on the agency that issued the alert:
Fortunately, the most dangerous type – crocidolite asbestos or “blue” asbestos – has not been reported as a contaminant.
According to the ACCC, the recalled products have been sold across Australia between 2020 and 2025. But if routine testing has taken place, it is likely that the contamination is recent, and may be limited to a single batch. However, we do not have information at this stage.
How can it end in sand?
The children’s play sand was manufactured overseas, and we don’t know how it became contaminated. But there are many possibilities.
If the sand was taken from a beach it is unlikely to be contaminated with asbestos. But if the sand was manufactured by crushing rocks, asbestos – which is a naturally occurring mineral – could potentially be in the source product.
Asbestos is still used as a heat-shielding material or building product in many places in the world. It is therefore also possible that the processes used to color the sand may also be another potential source of contamination.
What are the health risks? Are children more vulnerable?
Asbestos is most dangerous when it becomes airborne and can be inhaled, for example during demolition and renovation of older homes, where it was a common building material.
Inhaling any type of asbestos (fibers, dust, microparticles) can cause mesothelioma – a cancer that affects organ tissue, especially the lungs – as well as lung cancer and asbestosis, a chronic lung disease that causes shortness of breath.
There is no safe level of exposure. However, the risk also increases with the amount of exposure you have.
This means that even small amounts can be dangerous. But people who are exposed to small amounts of asbestos once or twice have a much lower risk of developing health complications than people exposed to large amounts of asbestos continuously, as we have seen in the construction and mining industries.
About the author
Brian Oliver is Professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney. This article is republished from Conversation Under Creative Commons license. read the original article,
We don’t have much research about its effects on children. But we know that the younger a person is exposed, the greater the risk of developing cancer or asbestosis. This is because health effects can take decades to develop. Young people therefore have a greater chance of surviving long enough to emerge.
So, what is the risk?
WorkSafe ACT has not released the levels found through laboratory testing. But a statement on its website says: “The risk of exposure to chrysotile fragments is low.” This suggests that very low levels were found.
The potential for exposure should be taken very seriously, as asbestos can be fatal. But this is not a cause for panic; The risk is less in this case.
Remember, it’s possible that everyone has been exposed to asbestos at some point, but most of us report no health complications as a result.
How should I safely dispose of sand?
Detailed instructions are available on WorkSafe ACT.
You should wear:
- Disposable gloves, tied into cuffs, and any gaps sealed with tape
- P2-rated face mask (not standard dust mask)
- Protective glasses.
When disposing of sand:
Information about asbestos disposal in your state or territory is available on the Asbestos and Silica Protection and Abatement Agency website.
If you are concerned about the risk to yourself or your baby, contact your doctor.