PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES URGE U.S. TO TEST CHILDREN’S TOYS AFTER ASBESTOS RECALLS IN U.K. AND AUSTRALIA

Sand-Filled Toys and Crafting Materials Found To Be Contaminated With Deadly Asbestos

WASHINGTON, CA, UNITED STATES, April 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the nation’s largest independent nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure and eliminating asbestos-related diseases, today sent a letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and requested they take action to ensure children’s toys and craft materials containing sand or mineral fillers sold in the United States are free of asbestos, after similar products sold in the United Kingdom and Australia were found to be contaminated with asbestos fibers.

“No parent should have to wonder if the toys their children play with are laced with asbestos,” said Linda Reinstein, president and co-founder of ADAO. “Asbestos exposure causes deadly mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Given the long latency period of these diseases, preventing exposure, particularly during childhood, is essential to protecting public health.”

Investigations in Australia and the United Kingdom have identified asbestos contamination in products marketed for children’s crafts and play, including sand art kits, decorative craft sand, and novelty toys filled with sand. Laboratory analysis detected asbestos minerals, including tremolite, actinolite, and chrysotile, in certain samples. In response, regulatory authorities issued recalls and removed affected products from the market.

“We are concerned with the wide availability of similar sand-filled children’s toys that are available in the United States after so many products were recalled for asbestos contamination abroad. We urge the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the EPA to take swift action to test these products and provide assurances to American parents that these types of toys are safe for their children to play with,” Reinstein stated.

Domestic retailers and online marketplaces are selling comparable products to the ones that have been recalled abroad, including:

Colored sand art craft kits.
Decorative craft sand sold in art stores.
Sandbox play sand.
Kinetic or moldable sand products.
Sensory play sand used in classrooms and early childhood settings.

In addition to requesting U.S. authorities test similar products for asbestos contamination, ADAO also requested the agencies evaluate whether current safety standards adequately address the risk of asbestos contamination in products containing natural mineral materials.

You can find a copy of the full letter to regulatory agencies here.

Tracy Russo
Asbestos Disease Awareness Org
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