Summertime inevitably means kids in sandboxes, a childhood pastime with a
proven track record as beneficial developmental play. But not all sand sold in
stores and found in sandboxes is safe for children. Much of the sand sold in
hardware and landscape stores is derived from crushed quartz rock and contains
crystalline silica dust, a known carcinogen and cause of a fatal lung condition
called silicosis. EPA and OSHA warn against inhaling crystalline silica dust for
workers, indicating the use of protective clothing and masks during occupational
exposure.
According to Mona Lisa Wallace, founder of SafeSand.com: “Many children play
in sandboxes at school, home or in parks almost daily — so if it is not safe for a
200 pound construction worker to inhale CS dust, why should it be safe for
preschoolers?”
In California, a Prop 65 warning label is required on bags of sand containing CS
dust. In many other states, sand bags can be found with the words: “not labeled
for sale in California.”
