New research from Auckland has found that recalled children’s play sand can release asbestos fibres straight into the air a child would breathe during ordinary play, overturning earlier official advice that the risk was low unless the sand was crushed or ground up.
The study, led by Associate Professor Terri-Ann Berry at Auckland University of Technology, is being described as a world first because no one had previously tested whether the asbestos already found in the recalled products could actually become airborne during normal use. The findings were released publicly on 2 July and have prompted urgent meetings between ministers and officials.
To run the test, a licensed asbestos removalist worked inside a sealed chamber and mimicked the way young children handle sand, writing and drawing in it, pushing toy vehicles through it, scooping it and building sand castles. Air samples were then collected and sent overseas, where two independent laboratories examined them under electron microscopes. The team looked at 15 samples drawn from three brands.
The results were stark. Airborne asbestos fibres, both tremolite and chrysotile, were detected in the craft sand samples, with 90 percent of them returning a positive result. Moulding sand did not release detectable fibres in the tests, though the researchers stressed that this does not make it safe to assume any recalled product is harmless.
Berry said the outcome was not what her team had hoped for. “It was incredibly disheartening to be honest, but at least we know now,” she said. The point of the work, she explained, was to replace guesswork with evidence about whether children were being exposed, and the answer turned out to be yes.
That result matters because it directly contradicts what families were told during the recalls. When the contaminated products were first pulled from shelves, part of the advice was that the release of airborne fibres was considered unlikely unless the sand was mechanically crushed or pulverised. Ministry of Health chief medical officer Dr Joe Bourne said the new research confirms the recalled products can release asbestos fibres into the air, and that health authorities have been taking a precautionary approach and assuming all of the products can do so.
The trouble began in November 2025, when testing found tremolite asbestos in coloured sand and craft sand products sold in New Zealand, including sets sold at Kmart. Since then more than 20 recall notices have been issued covering around 20 different brands, making it one of the largest consumer product recalls the country has seen in recent years. Some products first caught up in the recalls were later cleared and returned to sale after further testing found no asbestos, which added to the confusion for parents trying to work out what was safe.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in building materials before its dangers were understood. When its microscopic fibres are inhaled they can lodge in the lungs and cause serious disease decades later, including the cancer mesothelioma. There is no known safe level of exposure, which is why the discovery of the mineral in a children’s toy has caused such alarm.
The government is now weighing what to do next. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer said he had asked officials for the full picture. “I’ve asked for a full range of advice for that to be put on my table ASAP,” he said. Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey framed the choice facing the government bluntly. “The next question which is a decision for Minister Brewer is do we ban these play sands outright, or is it about enforcing that suppliers need to prove ahead of them coming into the country that there is no asbestos in them,” Doocey said. Mandatory safety certification for importers is one of the options on the table.
The Commerce Commission has opened an investigation into what consumers were told about the products during the recall period, and the Ministry of Health has reconvened its technical advisory group to reassess the risk in light of the new evidence.
For some parents the fresh findings have reopened old wounds. Elle Chrisp, whose children were exposed to the sand, said the country was back to square one. “We are right back where we started and that’s treating our kids like a natural experiment,” she said.
Officials have been careful to say there is no cause for panic among families whose children played with the sand. If your child has used one of the products, health authorities advise there is no need for urgent medical attention, and anyone who is worried can call Healthline or speak to their doctor. The concern is with ongoing exposure rather than a single episode of play.
Anyone who still has a recalled product at home is advised not to keep using it. The safe approach is to place the sand in an airtight container, then double bag it in thick plastic and label it as asbestos contaminated material. It should not go in the household rubbish, and loose sand should never be vacuumed or swept, as that can send fibres into the air. Local councils can advise on safe disposal, and shoppers are entitled to a refund from the retailer under the Consumer Guarantees Act. The Product Safety New Zealand website lists the affected products, and the MBIE consumer line is 0508 426 678.
For now the message from the researchers is simple. The question of whether recalled play sand can put asbestos into the air a child breathes has been answered, and the answer is one that no parent wanted to hear.
Have you dealt with a recalled product in your home, or do you think play sand should be banned outright? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This article was written by AI, briefed to report the facts, hopefully without some of the bias people bring to the job 🙂
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