Australia shuts 69 schools out of Asbestos fear

Sixty-nine schools in Canberra, the capital of Australia, have been closed from Monday after asbestos was detected in coloured decorative sand. The sand, intended for children, contained traces of chrysotile asbestos. The local government announced the closure after testing revealed asbestos in the sand, which had been used for decoration in various schools and educational institutions.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission stated that although some samples contained asbestos, the risk of it becoming airborne was ‘low’. The fibres were not fine enough to enter the body easily through inhalation.

Yvette Berry, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development of the Australian Capital Territory, said that emergency inspections are underway at all schools, which may take several days to complete. She added, “So far, in the schools where air tests have been conducted, no airborne asbestos has been detected.”

Earlier, on Friday, some schools and pre-primary centres had also been partially or fully closed.

Meanwhile, volunteers from the State Emergency Service and school staff have been mapping locations of coloured sand in each building throughout the week.

The government stated that 23 schools in Canberra will remain open because no coloured sand has been used there and the risk is minimal.

It is noted that asbestos was once widely used in construction. Even minor disturbance or processing can release fibres into the air, which, if inhaled, can remain in the lungs for years and cause serious illnesses such as cancer.