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69 ACT Schools Close After Asbestos Found in Colored Play Sand
Sixty-nine schools in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will shut on Monday following the recall of colored play sand contaminated with asbestos, the government announced. The closure comes after Kmart and Target issued a recall on Saturday for products containing traces of the hazardous material.
Recall and Risk Assessment
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated that while the risk of airborne asbestos exposure from the sand is "low," precautions are necessary. The recalled items include the Active Sandtub 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set and Blue, Green, and Pink Magic Sand.
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry confirmed on Facebook that inspections are ongoing and may take "days." Preliminary air tests at all affected schools have returned "negative for airborne asbestos," she added.
Broader Impact and Response
The closures follow earlier shutdowns of several ACT schools and preschools on Friday due to asbestos concerns in children's sand sold by Officeworks. New Zealand has also seen school closures, with at least two more expected to shut Monday for testing, according to the New Zealand Herald.
"Unfortunately, these sand products are even more widely used in our schools than the Officeworks products," Berry said.
Over the weekend, State Emergency Service volunteers and school staff have been mapping all colored sand found in school buildings, Berry noted.
Health and Regulatory Context
The ACT government clarified that no clinical assessments are required for those exposed to the product. Despite the minimal risk, Berry emphasized the obligation to "eliminate risk as much as reasonably practicable."
Twenty-three schools will remain open, either lacking the sand or holding only small quantities. Asbestos, banned in Australia and New Zealand, can release toxic fibers when disturbed, potentially causing lung cancer over decades.
