In Australia, more than 70 schools in the capital of Canberra were ordered to close today due to growing concerns about possible asbestos contamination from decorative sand products. The government has said, the decision was taken after an audit found widespread use of sand products in which asbestos had been detected. The education minister Yvette Berry, told the media that the health risk to students and staff is small but that closures could last several days. She said that education staff, building service officers and volunteers spent the weekend identifying and mapping the sand in schools so that assessors can remove it safely.

According to the World Health Organisation, Asbestos is a group of mineral fibres with widespread current and historical commercial uses, but which can cause deaths and serious ill-health in workers and other people who are exposed to these fibres. More than 2,00,000 people die globally every year, along with a substantial burden of ill health.