Contaminated children’s play sand sold in Australia can release toxic airborne asbestos, research finds

Exclusive New study contradicts statements that play products removed from shelves because of asbestos concerns were ‘low risk’

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Colourful children’s play sand that was sold in Australia while contaminated with asbestos can release hazardous airborne fibres of the toxic mineral, researchers have discovered.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the lead researcher of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study, which found 90% of craft sand samples released asbestos into the air when played with, confirmed the products had been sold in Australia.