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Multiple schools have temporarily closed in New Zealand and hundreds of education facilities are seeking advice from officials after asbestos was detected in several brands of widely used coloured play sand.
Last week, the ministry for business, innovation and employment confirmed a voluntary recall was under way for two brands of coloured sand sold in New Zealand, after testing in Australia found asbestos in similar products.
The recall was expanded on Saturday, after the faculty of asbestos management of Australia and New Zealand identified tremolite asbestos in four additional sand products – the 14-piece sandcastle building set and the blue, green and pink Magic Sand sets – sold at major retailer, Kmart.
“Testing of a range of similar products is under way, so at this point we cannot say for certain if these are the only products that are contaminated,” said Ian Caplin, the ministry’s product safety spokesperson said on Saturday.
The Guardian contacted Kmart for comment.
Tremolite asbestos is a naturally occurring form of asbestos. The Australian competition and consumer commission said respirable asbestos had not been detected in its samples, and the release of fibres was unlikely, unless the sand was crushed or pulverised.
“The risk that any asbestos found is likely to be airborne or fine enough for inhalation is low,” it said.
However, officials in both Australia and New Zealand advised education providers and individuals who had brought the products to immediately stop using the sand, and follow guidelines for how to safely dispose of it.
New Zealand’s ministry for education said as of Sunday, 150 schools and 90 early childhood centres had sought advice from officials.
The ministry could not yet confirm how many schools and preschools had closed on Monday, but multiple schools alerted their communities of closures on their websites and in posts to social media.
Clearview primary in Rolleston, in the South Island, told parents the school would be closed for up to three days “out of an abundance of caution”. The classrooms would be professionally tested for asbestos, the school said.
Tuia Burnside Primary School in Christchurch would also close on Monday.
“While the risk to our staff and students is considered very low, WorkSafe has advised us to close tomorrow as a precaution so we can complete testing and ensure all learning spaces are safe,” it said in a post to Facebook.
The education ministry’s spokesperson, Sean Teddy, said parents and caregivers would understandably feel worried about the presence of asbestos.
“We recommend they contact Healthline with any health concerns they may have about their children who may have come into contact with these products,” Teddy said.
More than seventy public schools and preschools in the Australian Capital Territory had closed, after the alert.
