Schoolyards across Queensland are being combed for a play item suspected to contain asbestos that could have been on the grounds for up to five years.
The Australian consumer watchdog issued a recall notice on Wednesday evening covering several brands of children’s play sand – Kadink Sand, Educational Colours Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand – it suspected could contain the hazardous material.
On Friday morning, Brisbane independent special school Mancel College issued a notice to parents it had located the sand on campus, where it had been used in sensory play activities.
Mancel College, in Brisbane’s west, closed on Friday after finding an item used for sensory play might be contaminated with asbestos.Credit: Mancel College
“It has been used in some of the Junior School and we have now found some in the Senior School,” the notice read.
“While the advice is low risk and there are only minor traces, we are acting with an abundance of caution.
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“We are therefore advising parents that with immediate effect we are closing the entire college today.”
Mancel College, in western Brisbane suburb Fig Tree Pocket, has almost 180 students enrolled and specialises in teaching children who have language disorders.
The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission detected tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos, in some samples of the coloured play sand product following lab testing.
