Tyra Ward's son 'adored' his magic sand. Photo / Supplied
An Auckland mum whose toddler “absolutely loved” building castles with his magic sand from Kmart has booked a medical check for her son after asbestos was found in the toy.
Tyra Ward said she’s worried after an urgent recall notice was issued for four Kmart NZ Magic Sand products, with a warning to parents to stop using the toys “immediately” after asbestos was detected in them.
Ward, who works for media company NZME which also owns the Herald, said her 2-year-old son would sit in his highchair shaping the magic sand into little moulds and build sandcastles.
She learned of the asbestos-related urgent recall just 10 minutes before she had to leave for work yesterday.
After hurriedly bagging up the sand, removing it and the highchair from the house, and booking an appointment with her GP, Ward left for work feeling “pretty nervous”.
“I think he’s probably going to be fine, but just to be safe, I’m going to have him checked. If he was coughing, I’d probably be a lot more freaked out.
“Any messy toys like that I would always put him in his highchair and always wipe it down, but you don’t expect it to be hazardous material.”
Ward said she’s seen a lot of people saying they’re angry about the situation.
“They’re pretty angry that it could somehow get into a children’s product without being noticed.
“The fact that it was in there and we don’t know how long it’s been.”
The coloured sand products sold by Kmart NZ have tested positive for tremolite asbestos, prompting yesterday’s urgent recall notice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
It comes after another recall this week for other coloured sand products, used by more than 60 schools and early childhood centres.
That recall notice was for EC Rainbow Sand and Creatistics – Coloured Sand, which had been sold at retailers including Paper Plus, Hobby Land, NZ School Shop, Office Products Depot, Discount Office, Acquire and Qizzle.
MBIE understood the presence of asbestos in products used by children would be concerning, its product safety spokesman Ian Caplin said.
“We urge families who have purchased these products to stop using them immediately, secure them safely, and contact your local council for advice on where and how to dispose of the contaminated material safely.”
Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology and asbestos researcher Dr Terri-Ann Berry said she appreciates how concerning the situation is.
“It’s incredibly upsetting and I totally understand why parents are worried. Being exposed is something that you try your best to avoid, but it doesn’t mean you’re going to develop cancer.
“It is horrible and it is horrific and we don’t want people to take it lightly. We want people to go and dispose of it properly and not put anyone else at risk.
“But at the same time, you know, just remember that you can be exposed and not develop cancer from exposure to asbestos.
“And if you went down, you know, a main road in a city and you tried to detect asbestos, you would detect fibres because they are part of our environment,” Berry said.
Chris Saunders, owner of HazMat and president of the New Zealand Asbestos Removal Association, said his advice to parents was “don’t panic”.
Saunders said asbestos appears to have a “cumulative effect” as opposed to being something where you breathe in one or two fibres and instantly have a problem.
Saunders echoed Berry’s point that asbestos was part of our environment.
“Everyone is exposed to some asbestos, whether it’s intentional or not. It’s prevalent in our building stock. So it’s something that can’t be avoided, but what can be done is minimising exposure as much as possible.”
Saunders said parents should follow the advice and leave the sand in place if already in a container.
“We’ve picked up a couple of containers that have just been left out by the front porch for us to collect, from parents who have identified having these products.
“But if it’s poured all out across the back deck and the kids have been playing there, then exclude yourself from that area, and seek advice from an asbestos removal contractor.”
In this situation, Saunders suggested testing for asbestos.
“I would recommend testing it first, so you don’t end up spending a fortune or going through all the angst of a massive clean when you actually didn’t have to.”
Berry said people should do their best to follow the disposal instructions.
“You want to get rid of it as soon as you possibly can but don’t put it in the bin, because that just puts other people at risk.”
Ward wished officials had provided clearer guidance around disposal.
“It just said, contact your local council to figure out how to dispose of it. We’re all going to be on hold!”
- Full details of the recalled products and advice from MBIE is available in this article.
Chris Knox is a scientist turned data-journalist who investigates the stories behind the numbers, and creates interactives for Herald readers to explore them.