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ABC Australia
The coloured sand that sparked an asbestos scare
15 minutes Posted Nov 18, 2025 at 3:00 pm.
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Asbestos is highly carcinogenic, is banned and can’t be imported in Australia. 
But in the last week it’s been found in various children’s coloured sand products from China, causing a major alarm across the community. 
The discovery has led to the closure of dozens of schools and products have been recalled from stores including Kmart, Target and Officeworks.
Today, Associate Professor Anthony Linton from the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute on the health risks the sand poses and why every state is dealing with it differently.
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Anthony Linton, academic and research director at the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute