Five children’s toys on sale in Britain were found to contain asbestos fibres, despite UK rules banning the sale of products containing any asbestos quantity. Illegal sales are linked to long-term risks of cancer and respiratory problems if fibres are inhaled. More than 30 toys were withdrawn from sale after earlier findings about asbestos in toy sand, leading to testing and recalls. New laboratory analysis of six similar toys still available in Britain found asbestos in five. The health risk is described as small due to low quantities, but risk remains, especially for younger children. The findings also point to regulatory gaps across European countries, since similar items had already been recalled in the Netherlands. Retailers removed some products after safety concerns were identified and continued investigations were underway.
"It is illegal to sell products containing any quantity of asbestos fibres in the UK because of the long-term risk of cancer and respiratory problems if they are inhaled. More than 30 toys have been withdrawn from sale by retailers since the Guardian first reported on asbestos being found in toy sand in January, prompting a wave of testing and recalls. However, tests commissioned for the investigation suggest there are still products on offer that pose a potential risk to health."
"The latest round of laboratory analysis looked at six toys similar to those previously recalled for Dutch shoppers but still on sale in Britain. Five were found to contain asbestos fibres, according to scientists at Brunel University's experimental techniques centre. Although the risk to health is small because the quantities of asbestos are small, there is still a risk, said Brunel's lead scientific officer, Ashley Howkins. The younger the child exposed the more chance they have of developing symptoms."
"The five products affected were: Fun Sand, Sand Art Bottle manufactured by the HTI Group and sold by the toy website Curious Minds; Glitter & Glow, Magical Sand Art by KandyToys available on Glowtopia; and three products bought from Amazon Sand Filled Weirdo, Wordpad Montessori Sand Tray and 4 Pack Stretchy Gorilla Toy. Fun Sand, Sand Art Bottle, manufactured by the HTI Group, was sold by the toy website Curious Minds Amazon has since removed the Weirdo and sand tray from sale and said it was investigating the gorillas."
"The discovery raises fresh doubts about the UK safety regime's reliance on self-reporting, and exposes regulatory gaps between different European countries, as similar items had already been recalled in the Netherlands. A spokesperson said: When we identified safety concerns related to sand-based toys, we proactively removed affected products including play s"
Read at www.theguardian.com
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