Asbestos contamination Prompts Coloured Sand Recall Across South australia
Adelaide, SA – A widespread asbestos contamination scare has ledโข toโค the recall of coloured sand sold at over 100 sites across South australia, prompting urgent warnings for families and school closuresโฃ in Canberra. the product, sold between 2020โ and 2025, has โขraised concerns due to the potential presence of asbestos.
Sixteen public schools in Canberraโฃ are closedโข today, with โseveral others partially closed, as a precautionary measure. SafeWork SA is urging staffโ and families to “be on the lookout” for โthe affected products.
“As I understand from the national reports, the risk is low, but any exposure is not good, and of course the education department and SafeWork SA will be โworking very โขhard to remove all of this product,” a spokesperson stated. “If people have โconcerns, they should contact their local school.”
Consumer and Business Services’ product safety regulators are working withโค retailers to halt sales in SA. SafeWork SA has issued aโค safety โคalert outlining steps โfor those who mayโค have purchased the sand.
According โขto โthe alert,loose sand should prompt immediate evacuation โof theโ area and contact with a licensed asbestos removalist. Sand โฃstill in its original packaging should be sealed in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double-taped, and isolated before contacting a โremovalist.
The Australian โCompetition andโข Consumer Commission (ACCC)โ has confirmed that “respiratory asbestos” has not been detected in testedโค samples.
“The release โขof respiratory asbestos fibres โฃfrom the sand is unlikely to occur in its current state, unless the sand is processed by mechanical means such as crushing or pulverising,” the ACCC said. “While the risk that any asbestos found is likely to be airborne or fine enoughโฃ forโค inhalation is low, this may still pose a โฃrisk.”