Asbestos Scare in Australian Schools

In a surprising turn of events, 69 schools in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are set to close on Monday. The reason? A potential asbestos risk in colored play sand used in these educational institutions.

The issue came to light when Kmart and Target, two major retailers, recalled certain sand products on Saturday. These products were found to contain traces of asbestos in some samples. While the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated that the risk of asbestos becoming airborne or fine enough for inhalation is 'low', authorities are taking no chances.

ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry announced that inspections of the affected schools are ongoing and could take several days. Interestingly, air testing conducted so far has shown no signs of airborne asbestos in any of the schools. Despite this, the government is proceeding with closures to ensure student safety.

This incident follows similar closures in New Zealand, where schools are also grappling with the same issue. The ACT government has assured that individuals who have been in contact with the product do not require immediate medical assessment.