Over 70 schools have been closed in Australia and around 40 in New Zealand, for sandbox inspections.
“This sand product is reportedly imported from China and can be used in classroom activities,” states New Zealand’s occupational health and safety agency Worksafe.
Schools and kindergartens are now in the process of removing contaminated sand, the country's education ministry said. China's foreign ministry in Beijing said it was aware of the information and said Australian importers were in contact with suppliers to "resolve the issue".
Asbestos is a silicate mineral that was completely banned in Sweden in 1982, but before that it was widely used in construction. All varieties of asbestos can cause asbestosis ("asbestos lung"), lung cancer, mesothelioma and other diseases.
Asbestos becomes harmful when it is processed, such as during demolition or grinding, when microscopic fibers are released into the air. However, according to Australian authorities, it is unlikely that the contaminated sandboxes contain such small fibers.
