Asbestos contaminated sand clean-up begins as list of affected South Australian schools grows to about 139
Almost 140 schools have been identified with asbestos-contaminated sand as specialist crews begin to remove it. Search our interactive map to see if your school is affected.
Asbestos-contaminated sand has been found at an increasing number of South Australian schools, as an investigation gets under way into affected sites and the clean-up begins this morning.
About 139 sites have now been revealed to contain brightly coloured “kinetic sand”, which the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) identified may contain asbestos.
There have now been about 10 more sites added to a list of affected schools.
The ACCC said the imported products – manufactured in China – could include tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos, which was detected in some samples after laboratory testing.
Chronic exposure to airborne tremolite can increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung and pleural disorders.
On Monday, that list expanded to include 94 sites with contained sand and 24 with the loose product.
A further eight schools had a similar type of sand not on the list of recalled products and 13 cases needed to be further investigated.
Specialist crews have been contracted to remove the contaminated sand.
Education Minister Blair Boyer defended the decision so far not to shut any schools affected, after about 70 sites in the ACT were closed on Monday over the asbestos-contaminated sand.
He cited decisions in NSW, Vic and WA to keep schools open despite the contamination as the situation was “low risk”.
“The clear advice from SafeWork (SA) in all these cases that we have followed is that it is low risk but nonetheless we have provided advice to schools,” Mr Boyer told ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday.
SafeWork SA determined respiratory asbestos was not detected in any of the tested samples and therefore the release of respiratory asbestos fibres from the sand is unlikely.
“The ACT is, with exception of one independent school I think in Queensland, the only jurisdiction that has taken this action.
“But because it does contain naturally occurring asbestos we still have to take precautions to make sure it is treated appropriately and safely and we are doing that.”
Loxton Primary School principal Alana Kitson told families in a letter sent on Friday, seen by The Advertiser, it was one of the affected sites and it immediately secured “impacted materials”.
“Our site has followed these instructions and isolated any sand that may be affected,” Ms Kitson said.
“As a precaution, no students or staff will be permitted to access the sand or any area where it was used until it is confirmed to be safe.”
Ms Kitson told the school community there was “no indication at this time of any health impacts among students or staff related to this product at our site”.
“As further information becomes available, including the outcomes of testing and next steps, we will keep you informed,” she said.
Originally published as Asbestos contaminated sand clean-up begins as list of affected South Australian schools grows to about 139
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