Everything we know about the asbestos-contaminated kinetic sand in South Australian schools
As specialist cleaners in hazmat suits move in to SA schools, here’s everything you need to know about the kinetic sand contamination crisis.
Specialist decontamination teams have been sent into South Australian schools after it was revealed over the weekend that kinetic sand containing asbestos was present at more than 130 sites.
On Monday, the clean-up began and sites were added to a growing list of schools, now totalling more than 300, which had used the contaminated sand.
While Education Minister Blair Boyer and safety watchdog SafeWork SA maintained the risk to children was low, they emphasised the issue was being treated seriously.
Here is everything we know about the contaminated sand in SA schools.
What is kinetic sand?
Kinetic sand is designed for children to play with both at home and in educational settings.
The brightly coloured product is tactile and sticky so individual grains aren’t spread across a surface.
It has been revealed that several brands such as Kadink Sand, Educational Colours – Rainbow Sand and Creatistics – Coloured Sand, contain asbestos.
These products were recalled from shelves after it was found they may contain tremolite asbestos which is naturally occurring.
The kinetic sand product was found, in the majority of cases in SA schools, in a sealed state.
How dangerous is it?
The ACCC revealed the presence of asbestos in the sand after it was detected in some samples following laboratory testing.
Chronic exposure to airborne tremolite can increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung and pleural disorders.
However SafeWork SA have determined that the risk is low as respiratory asbestos was not detected in any of the tested samples.
The release of respiratory asbestos fibres from the sand is unlikely unless it is either crushed or pulverised by machine.
In its current state, it is unlikely to be airborne or fine enough to inhale.
Where has it been found?
As the contaminated sand was sold widely in Australia, it has been found in school sites across the country.
In South Australia, there was an initial list released of about 130 schools identified as either containing the sand or in need of further investigation.
About 10 more were added to the list on Monday.
By Tuesday, that list had expanded to include more than 300 sites.
These schools range from sites in Adelaide such as Burnside Primary School and Craigmore Kindergarten, to the Loxton Primary School in the Riverland and Streaky Bay Children’s Centre on the Eyre Peninsula.
Private school Prince Alfred College in Kent Town was forced to close classrooms early learning centre and relocate students due to the substance.
Where does it come from?
The products were sold at more than 80 retailers nationwide including Officeworks, Kmart and Target.
The affected items, which had since been pulled from shelves, were also available to the general public.
The product is originally manufactured in and imported from China.
It has been prohibited to import asbestos in Australia since 2003.
When was it discovered?
It was revealed the sand was present at more than 100 school sites around SA on Friday.
However, the ACCC published recall notices for affected products on November 12 and 13.
The Educational Colours sand products were sold throughout Australia between 2020 and 2025.
Specialist teams began cleaning the affected school sites in SA on Monday.
What has been the response?
Reactions to the discovery of asbestos-contaminated sand have been varied across Australia.
In SA, Education Minister Blair Boyer had so far decided to keep schools open while specialist teams began removing the contaminated sand from school sites from Monday.
Two Catholic sites, Our Lady of La Vang Special School at Flinders Park and St Patrick’s Special School in Dulwich closed.
He followed decisions by other states including NSW, Vic and WA.
However, more than 70 schools in the ACT closed on Monday while the areas were being decontaminated.
What should you do if you have purchased any of the sand?
SafeWork SA advises to cease using any potentially impacted sand products. Do not allow children or adults to play with or handle the affected sand.
Isolate any materials or areas that may be affected. This may include:
securing products in sealed containers and moving to a secure location
blocking off access to areas where sand is located.
Avoid sweeping, shovelling, vacuuming or disturbing any sand which has spread onto floors or other surfaces.
For further advice on containment, safe handling and disposal contact a competent person such as a licensed asbestos assessor or licensed asbestos removalist.
Not all coloured sand products are affected – contact your supplier for further information regarding your product.
Retail distributers are being traced and those businesses identified as having received affected sand have been directed to immediately remove products from sale.
Originally published as Everything we know about the asbestos-contaminated kinetic sand in South Australian schools
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