Safe Play Sand for Sandpit?

[FriskyFrog]

Sorry, posting for traffic.

Just bought a sandpit and was about to order some nice cheap playsand from Tesco when I found out about crystalline silica and asbestos tremolite. Both known carcinogens. Common to find them in play sand apparently if the sand is manufactured from crushed rock instead of being natural sand taken from a beach or river.

Am looking at playsand that claims to be non toxic and conforms to BS EN71-3-2013, e.g. ELC and others, but the standard does not cover silica or asbestos tremolite, and none of them say how the sand is produced / sourced.

Has anyone already done the homework on this and know of a properly safe playsand?

I am rather shocked to see that Tesco's playsand is silica sand now.

OMG you lot are awful. A mother is asking for advice and you are being nasty bastards!

OP early learning centre do some that says toxic free ( how true it is I'm not sure)

Ignor the rude comments

Not one single poster has been nasty. Opinion was sought, opinion was given. Job done!

Some very odd responses. Is it offensive that I seek to find out if anyone already knows of a safe sand for children?

Others are entirely free to make their own choices.

To the poster that mentioned ELC sand, yes, I am hoping this one is ok. I have opened a supplier query with them today.

In my own opinion, OP needs not to over-worry (which she is doing).

Nasty or sarcastic! Yes
Condersending ! Yes
Helpful a big NO!

crystalline silica is a possible carcinogen when inhaled as dust. Your kids are presumably not using power tools to create that. Sand particles are too big to be inhaled in the same way.

most beaches are made of silica sand.

what makes you think that form of asbestos would be in playsand?

special I thought this too, but it transpires I was wrong.

Thank you Murphy

You're definitely over thinking this.

Ultimately, you've got to be comfortable, but if you analyse everything like this you'll struggle to do/buy anything.

Itmustbebedtime

Actually, I am a very pragmatic person. I don't struggle with much. Just choosing to avoid an avoidable risk that's all. It's a one-time purchase, I might as well do it right.

silica sand is on beaches so you'd better stay off those. Evidence please that beach-sized grains are carcinogenic?

I still wonder why you think asbestos would be in playsand?

It wont be a one time purchase sadly. It will become spread around your garden and reappear all over the place in your house. When you find one you're happy with, buy lots

It sounds like you have some sort of background on this OP? Do you work in materials safety or the building industry or something?

I'm an ex industrial chemist and it wouldn't have occurred to me to worry about these specific substances - so I'm thinking you must have some pretty specific experience?

And yes, you have to buy new sand every year pretty much.

No, not a one-time purchase at all, as Greathat says. By the end of the summer whatever is left in the sandpit (whatever hasn't been traipsed through the house or taken home in friend's shorts) will be so grubby, you wouldn't want to use it again. You buy fresh every year!

Have you quizzed your Nursery or Early Years teachers on what they use in their school sandpits? They might have some insight and advice.

WE are being condescending to the op, murphy?? Ok... And what nasty comments?

Op, with respect, I think what people are trying to say everything is a potential risk for cancer or other diseases. Swimming pools, parks, toys, food, toiletries - the list goes on and on. Presumably if you can't find sand that is good enough for you, your DD won't have it which is a shame for her to miss out based on a microscopic potential threat. I'm willing to bet if you are like this about play sand, many other aspects of yours (and your DD's) life are heavily impacted by your worries.

Ha! Good point re: the one time purchase!

Well, a one time decision making process then!

This link is relevant.... Dry though.

www.upstate.edu/pathenvi/studies/cases/case7.php

I really don't think you need to worry, OP.

Everything we use has carcinogens in it - aerosols, shampoo, washing up liquid, meat, milk, toothpaste...the list goes on.

I understand you're concerned, but it's not rational when you consider how much of what we eat/use/inhale everyday is full of carcinogens. Play-sand isn't going to have any impact in the grand scheme of things.

You're more likely to get cancer from the plastic sand pit than the sand......BPA? Phthalates?
Of course you must already know about the risk from these and never use plastic cups/beakers/bottles/toys/packaging etc???

Your link is for an American study, OP. Do you live in the US?

Juxta

Your "bet" is incorrect.

That is a very old study. Anything more recent?

UK Evan. But it's a rather relevant study regardless, with its focus on early childhood exposure etc.

that link is indeed relevant to what you are saying, but it is nearly 30 years old and American. Asbestos use and control have changed considerably since.

the sand concerned had come from somewhere with asbestos deposits. They aren't that common and I doubt that playsand is dug from these places.

other links on the subject of playsand safety are full of babble about 'no silica'. What is their sand made of, we ask?

life can be carcinogenic, I'm afraid. It isn't safe so the trick is to assess risk. In short, step away from google and don't worry.