69 Australian Schools Close Over Asbestos in Play Sand

Mass School Closures in Australia Due to Asbestos Contamination

Nearly 70 schools across Australia's capital territory have been forced to close after authorities discovered potentially dangerous asbestos fibers in colored play sand used in classrooms. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a nationwide recall for several children's sand products after laboratory testing confirmed the presence of chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos, in multiple samples.

Widespread Product Recall and School Impact

The contamination affects schools primarily in the Australian Capital Territory, where Canberra is located. What began as a limited recall on Friday expanded dramatically over the weekend, forcing education authorities to close 69 schools by Monday morning. The recalled products include the 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set and various colored Magic Sand products sold at major retailers including Kmart and Target.

ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry addressed the situation, stating: 'Unfortunately, the recently recalled products were used on an even larger scale than we initially identified. However, the risk to staff and students remains low according to health assessments.'

Health Risks and Safety Measures

While authorities emphasize the low health risk, chrysotile asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the World Health Organization. The primary concern arises when asbestos fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Health experts note that the risk increases significantly if the contaminated sand is mechanically processed or disturbed in ways that could release fibers into the air.

Local media footage shows investigators in full protective gear removing bags of sand from affected schools, with warning signs reading 'asbestos danger' prominently displayed on school buildings. Air quality testing conducted so far has returned negative results for airborne asbestos in all schools, providing some reassurance to concerned parents and staff.

Ongoing Investigation and Response

The Australian food and product safety authority continues to investigate how asbestos contamination occurred in children's play products. The contaminated sand was primarily used for sensory play and arts and crafts activities in elementary school classrooms. Only public elementary schools that can confirm they have no affected sand or have received clearance to reopen will be permitted to welcome students back.

This incident follows similar asbestos contamination concerns in New Zealand, where several schools have also been closed for testing. The situation has raised broader questions about product safety standards and supply chain oversight for children's educational materials.

Meanwhile, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has stated they are not currently aware of similar contamination signals in the Netherlands, though they continue to monitor the situation closely.