Dutch childcare industry warns against asbestos-contaminated play sand
By Simone Jacobs
The Childcare Industry Association (BK) has issued advice to avoid children’s play sand, after Dutch newspaper AD found asbestos in related products, including those for sand tables, sand craft sets and sand drawing sets.
Asbestos found in children’s play sand in the Netherlands
Newspaper AD conducted an investigation into play sand for children after asbestos was found in similar products made in China and sold in Australia and New Zealand. Several schools in the two countries closed their doors to remove the contaminated materials from their classrooms, and the products were recalled.
AD found several products on Dutch online stores that appeared to be the same as the contaminated toys in Australia and New Zealand. The Dutch newspaper purchased 12 of the products from Top1Toys, Bol.com, Amazon, AliExpress and wholesaler Koppen Speelgoed and took them to be tested at accredited asbestos laboratory Nomacon.
Asbestos was found in half of the play sand items. The kind of asbestos found, non-bonded tremolite, is particularly worrisome as it is considered more dangerous than the common “white asbestos”.
"This is truly serious. In construction, this material should be removed by men in white suits," Asbestos & Fibre Expertise Centre expert David de Vreede told AD. Some products contained 2 to 5 percent asbestos in a non-bonded state. "That's a really high level and can easily be inhaled." Asbestos fibres can lead to lung cancer decades after inhalation.
Caution advised until play sand fully investigated
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) have stated that it is still unclear whether and how toxic the products are, and if there are health risks, reports NOS. NVWA is conducting its own research into the play sand.
Based on the report by AD, BK has advised its members to avoid using any indoor play sand, particularly “play sand in sand tables or creative play activities”. The childcare association recommends that all play sand in indoor areas be removed and kept out of reach in a sealed bag.
BK also recommends not purchasing any new play sand products until the NVWA has declared it safe and to keep an eye out for communications about any recalls of related products. Websites that sell the products have put them “on hold” and some retailers are discontinuing the stock.
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training.Read more