Toy retailer removes sand-containing products after asbestos alert

A Swedish toy retailer is pulling sand-based toys from its shelves after tests revealed traces of asbestos in similar products, SVT Nyheter reports.

Lekia, a major toy chain, confirmed it is removing all sand-containing toys pending further testing. The move follows a report by Swedish public radio P4 Halland, which had five sand-based toys analysed by a laboratory—one of which tested positive for asbestos.

Maria Albin, professor of occupational and environmental medicine at Karolinska Institute, warned that even limited asbestos exposure poses risks. “There is no safe lower limit,” she told the radio station.

Erik Broddesson, Lekia’s purchasing director, stated that the products would remain off shelves until tests confirm they are asbestos-free.

Consumer groups in multiple countries have previously detected asbestos in children’s play sand and hobby sand. Sweden’s Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen) cites EU-wide assessments concluding that the overall risk from sand-based toys remains low.