Consumer group Which? has uncovered two additional children's sand kits containing tremolite asbestos, a banned and carcinogenic mineral, sold widely across the UK on platforms including Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop. The discovery has raised serious health concerns, as asbestos fibres can become airborne and lead to severe lung diseases if inhaled.
Details of the Contaminated Products
One of the recently identified items, a Montessori sand art tray, was found to have asbestos in its sand. The second sand art tray, also sold on TikTok Shop and Amazon, remained available for purchase until May despite being subject to a recall by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in March due to asbestos contamination. The OPSS has since updated its original recall notice for this product.
Which? researchers also detected tremolite asbestos in the GL Style Sand Bottle Art Heart or Stars set, purchased from Asda and also available on eBay. This adds to more than 39 recall notices issued by the OPSS since November for asbestos-contaminated sand products.
Health Risks and Regulatory Response
Asbestos is a known carcinogen that poses significant health risks, particularly when its fibres become airborne. The presence of asbestos in children's products is especially alarming, as young children are more vulnerable to its effects. Which? is now calling on the government to implement robust legislation requiring online marketplaces to exercise due diligence in preventing, identifying, and removing dangerous products from their platforms.
In response to the findings, the implicated retailers and platforms have stated they are taking action to remove the affected items. However, Which? stresses that more stringent measures are needed to protect consumers, particularly children, from hazardous products sold online.
