Families and retailers are flooding a materials testing lab with concerns over asbestos-contaminated sand, following the discovery of the hazardous material in decorative and colored sand for children. The Australian consumer watchdog initially issued a recall notice for several brands, including Kadink Sand, Educational Colours Rainbow Sand, and Creatistics Coloured Sand. Kmart and Target also issued safety recalls for 'magic sand' products and a sand castle building set over the weekend. Despite the products being found in dozens of schools across the country, authorities outside the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland have deemed the risk 'low' and decided against school closures. However, 69 schools in Canberra remain closed. State education departments are urging public schools to dispose of colored sand products as a precaution. Concerned families and retailers have been contacting the lab in Perth, where the materials analysis was conducted, with inquiries about the product's contents and potential risks to children. This situation is reminiscent of a similar issue with crayons in 2015, where traces of asbestos were found, but it was later determined that the fibers would not be released during normal use, posing a low risk. While further testing is required on sand products, experts predict a similar conclusion, emphasizing that fiber release is minimal unless the product is left out in the sun to dry out. Some states have published lists of affected public schools, while others, like Western Australia, have not. The WA Deputy Premier, Rita Saffioti, stated that the state's approach is based on health advice, and affected schools have been directly informed to remove the contaminated sand from playgrounds. Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral fiber, is an ongoing concern due to its ease of missibility and the lengths manufacturers must go to ensure product safety. The full extent of asbestos in colored sand is yet to be determined, and experts urge caution to prevent potential exposure.
