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.

Evans Feel free to call me Frisk, it's of no consequence. Perhaps now I understand more why my position annoys you. It seems to take not much.

You seem pointlessly antagonistic, so I am not inclined to answer your questions. But since it bothers you so much, then rest assured that I am aware that we cannot avoid unavoidable carcinogens in life. But I seek to minimise avoidable ones, as anyone sensible does.

And no, of course I'm not about to run shrieking over to my children at the sight of an unfamiliar sand pit, but if it's in their own garden, so likely to be used much more frequently and over a longer period, then yes, I will seek to put something non-toxic in there.

Is that OK by you?

Hairy, it's unhealthy to label people obsessed and not to think about stuff like this. Leave the bloody op alone Shelter from Plastic toys is hardly a comparison either as the child is for likely to inhale sand (dust ) than plastic toys (unless mouthing still going on). Op seriously get yourself down to the beach and start digging

*far more likely

But you are avoiding risk by buying play sand certified to the relevant BS. There is minimal respirable silica in play sand, trace amounts, certainly not enough to cause cancer.

Evans Feel free to call me Frisk, it's of no consequence. Perhaps now I understand more why my position annoys you. It seems to take not much.

Not annoyed in the slightest, simply slightly irritated, and wondering why you hadn't replied to the questions. It is impossible for you and your DC to go through life actively avoiding anything that MIGHT contain a carcinogen. Almost everything does, Fact. Just by breathing, you are inhaling carcinogens left, right and centre. You appear to be obsessed with the sand (and I haven't said that previously) yet are fine with everything else that might be slightly carcinogenic.
Play sand in this country will have been researched to be as safe as it possibly can be and is probably the least of your worries. You have been pretty much told this by someone very knowledgeable in the field', yet you still choose to argue. You asked the question in AIBU, you have been told that you are BU, yet you still choose to argue. I'm now shrugging my shoulders and moving on.

I'm now shrugging my shoulders and moving on.

AT LONG LAST

Interesting thread.

If I used a single reference more than 30 years old, which relates to conditions in a different country, with such an interesting publication record I would be lynched.

Seriously op, if this is a genuine concern please use references that actually mean something.

Also MrsPigling knows what she is talking about.

I would of course be interested in the results of any further research. My childrens sandpit has been made into a chicken nest and is in need of new sand for the summer

or what its worth I used play sand from Early Learning centre for my 3 dc 20 yrs ago (bought several times I may add)...hasn't done them any harm
I'd be more worried about my kids being taught in old school buildings with asbestos in the roof tiles!

Sorry but this statement doesn't really stack up as evidence. First of all, personal anecdotes are not statistical studies and secondly, asbestos tiles are OK unless they are broken and release particles which are ingested, which is exactly what OP is concerned about with play sand.

OP: FWIW I agree with you. There are lots of risks in life we can't avoid but there are some we can avoid. I've had the same thoughts as you about play sand and also do my best to avoid potentially hazardous substances in toiletries, cleaning materials, plastics etc. This does not make me an over-anxious mother or a crank. In fact, concern about health risks from commonly-used substances in the home is becoming more of a mainstream concern and has been the subject of various reports recently.

murphy what exactly are you adding to this thread apart from goading everyone along?

Op I couldn't care less what you want to do. What I do care about is when people scaremonger based on no actual facts. You have chosen a parenting website to ask this question and make your claims regarding cancer and children, which is inevitably going to worry people. You know full well 99% of people on here will have the sand you are trying to say is unsafe. You answered your own question in less than 30 minutes by going to the manufacturer directly anyway. And you chose AIBU to do all of this.

Your only frame of reference is an American study from 30 years ago, even though you specifically asked for something that conforms to a EUROPEAN standard. You don't seem to be able to grasp what I and others have said about the risk, the dust particles etc. So either you don't know what you are talking about or you just wanted to start an argument where you can look like a perfect parent protecting her child from all danger.

Anyway Murphy you will pleased to know I bow out of this conversation now too.

MrsPigling
No, the risk is not avoided by buying play sand tested to British Standards.
BS EN71-3-2013, which is the relevant standard, covers neither tremolite nor silica.

Thus, play sand in this country could contain any amount of each. They are unregulated carcinogens in play sand. And most play sand is not true sand, it's ground quartz and similar.

Watch out for dihydrogen monoxide op - it's everywhere.....

Juxta murphy what exactly are you adding to this thread apart from goading everyone along?

That is the most ironic thing I've read this month.

Arf! Lacontessa thinks she's a cross between Marie Curie and Peter Kay.

Juxta so far all you have done is criticise and offered no advice what so ever.

Anyway Murphy you will pleased to know I bow out of this conversation now too.*

Really !!! I'm sure your going to HAVE to add something more. As you seem to be the one goading. Asking the same question and saying the same things again and again and again and again!

Juxta. It's not relevant that the study I linked to happened to be American, or that it's older. The same risks still exist.

I sought knowledge here, but it seems that many have adopted an aggressive stance, possibly through fear. But if the risk exists, is it not better to be aware of it so people can do their own research and decision making?
Although for clarity, I did not post in order to inform, I posted to ask for info, and I think that is very clear in my OP.

Why shout me down for seeking info to enable me to make a safe choice for my children?

I think many responses on here have been out of order. If you don't agree with my decision to seek info on safer toys and do not have the info I seek, then move along.

Poundshop specials for me

You won't get a say in what sand is used at playgroups/nursery/school/other people's houses.

Frankly there are better things to tie yourself in knots over

Actually it is relevant

We used to use products years ago that we now know arnt safe. They are no longer used. Sand will have evolved. It is also relevant in that America and the U.K. Have different standards when it comes to safety

Sand will have evolved

No, sand does not evolve.

Fake sand will because it is manufactured

It is relevant that the paper was American. It helps understand the source of the sand. Which is not the kind of sand used as play sand in the UK.

The age of the paper is relevant because science advances over time. Our understanding of cause, effect, risk and impact all improve with time.

The dodgy (to say the least) publication history of the paper is also relevant. It helps explain what the authors peers made of the paper.

I have done some Googling (always dangerous ). I found lots of frightened mums on parenting websites but nothing to substantiate their concerns.

It is entirely your perogative to worry about stuff. I am with juxta on the scarmongering though.

What I think you are after is play sand with no silicon? I would Google sand merchants. Am sure they would be happy to deliver what you are after if they stock it.

I didn't realise pound land did playsand though. Think I will get myself some!

Tilder not all do, but I live near a large Yorkshire shopping centre and theirs dos the other week so nabbed some in hope of some decent weather. Set it up and it bloody snows all week!!!

Dos = did sorry

Just wet it. Then there's no dust to be inhaled and excellent sandcastles to be made.

Silica free sand is like those bloody silly 'natural ' products that claim no chemicals - nonsense. You can buy sand from the Caribbean if you are in america .

BTW California labels almost everything as carcinogenic .

F, What sand did you get in the end?