The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said people needed to stop using the products immediately. Photo: Supplied / Product Safety NZ
The Ministry of Education has confirmed the number of schools and early learning centres in contact over asbestos contamination concerns has doubled - with seven closing.
Operations and integration lead Sean Teddy said five early learning services and two schools would close temporarily to allow licensed asbestos removalists to address possible contamination.
"As of 1pm today, 72 early learning services, and 55 schools and kura have contacted us. Over half of them report having the recalled brands on-site.
"We appreciate that the potential presence of asbestos in products that are used by children is concerning for parents and caregivers. We are recommending they contact Healthline with any health concerns they may have about their children, who may have come into contact with the product."
Rainbow sand from Educational Colours and coloured sand from Creatistics were recalled because Tremolite - a naturally occurring asbestos - had been found in samples during lab testing.
Head of operations and integration Sean Teddy said schools were told not to attempt to clean it up, but leave the area and close off access to affected spaces.
"We've been contacted by around 30 schools and 30 early childhood services from around the country, and we are working with them to validate if the product they have on site is the product that is being recalled, as well as if the product they have is in active use or not.
"We will have a better understanding of the number of schools and early learning services affected by the recall, and how they are responding, by the end of the day Friday."
Asbestos contamination had been found in similar products in Australia.
Earlier in the week the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said people needed to stop using the products immediately.
"We urge anyone who has bought these products, either for personal use or potential use in a school or other setting to act immediately," said Ian Caplin, MBIE product safety spokesperson.
"Stop using the sand, contain it, secure it in a safe place and arrange for safe disposal through licensed professionals, a list of these is available on the WorkSafe website."
Caplin said people should avoid trying to clean any loose particles themselves
"It's not a question of hoovering it up and chucking it in a waste bin, call an expert.,"
The sand was sold at Paper Plus, Hobby Land, NZ School Shop, Office Products Depot, Discount Office, Acquire, and Qizzle, Modern Teaching Aids, Creative Classrooms Ltd and ACME Supplies.
MBIE said it may have also been sold online.
RNZ had been in touch with a number of asbestos removal firms who said they had been notified of the product by WorkSafe, and were awaiting further information before formulating plans to address potential contamination.
Creatistics Coloured Sand is sold in various colours. Photo: Supplied / Product Safety NZ
The principal of Kapakapanui School in Waikanae said they had removed containers of the coloured sand from their junior block after receiving notification from the Ministry of Education.
Craig Vidulich said the sand had been used in the school for about a year.
"It's a creative sand product that the kids use in their discovery time - when they play with it in their little sand trays. It's all been removed."
He said the school had acted quickly to close off classrooms and redirect activities.
"As of today we've actually got six classes who are working in our hall and it's a beautiful sunny day in Waikanae today, so they're outside as well, and they're in our library. Our teachers have pivoted and done an amazing different program for today to keep everyone out of the block."
Vidulich said asbestos specialists had taken samples from the school and they were expecting test results early next week.
"At this point we don't know if asbestos is in the product, so it's really a bit of a safety measure at the moment," Vidulich said.
Auckland Kindergarten Association CEO Pauline Winter said two of the association's 112 early learning centres had closed.
"Most of our 112 sites had no coloured sand products, some had it in sealed containers, four had limited product which was cleared by specialists last night, and two kindergartens are closed waiting two kindergartens are closed waiting specialist attention. We expect to have those open on Monday," Winter said.
A WorkSafe spokesperson said it contacted licensed asbestos removalists on 12 November to advise them of the issue.
They said tremolite was a part of the amphibole type of asbestos substances, which are typically found in metamorphic and igneous rocks.
"Amphibole asbestos has straight, needle-shaped fibres. Studies show lower exposure to amphibole asbestos causes more cancer cases than low exposure to serpentine [white] asbestos.
"Recent research indicates that exposure to amphibole asbestos causes severe auto-immune conditions in addition to cancer and respiratory conditions."
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