CRAYOLA PLAY SAND AND SAFE SANDS FOR KIDS?
I have been looking into finding safe sands for play and have found that most play sand for the sandbox can certainly come with better quality. Silica...
I have been looking into finding safe sands for play and have found that most play sand for the sandbox can certainly come with better quality. Silica is quartz, but the most important concern is free silica dust or crystalline silica and asbestos. Play sand with dust most likely have one or both of these, and they are a hazard to a child's developing lungs. These sharp glass-like particles become trapped in the lung tissue causing scar tissue, slow progressing lung disease and cancer. Now workers who work on a regular basis with these elements are more likely to develop this problem, but that doesn't mean that it is okay for our children to play with such dangerous sand particles. I have found some sands which may be safe including Sandtastik and Safe Sand. These however may have asbestos even though they are silica free, and are expensive. The MSDS for these state that the ingredient for the sand is used to make fiberglass and other such products, and that the main ingredient is feldspharic inorganic minerals. Many white sands contain asbestos and/or crystalline silica dust unless stated otherwise...very rare for them to state free of both dangers.
Well, the best I have found so far is Crayola colored play sand. I called the company n2m group who makes the sand, and have found that the quartz particles are rounded by tumbling for 45 minutes, is 100% asbestos free and free of crystalline silica dust particles, the dye is acrylic based and safe, the product does not stain though it may appear so as the tiny particles wedge into areas, is washed and goes through a dust collecting process, does not require that warning label for lung disease, and is certified with high standards and well tested. Completely non-toxic AND irritant free. There was one case where two children broke out in a rash...they ended up being allergic to sand in general. It had nothing to do with the colors or quality, and was an isolated case. For anyone looking for this good quality sand, it is only currently sold at Wal-mart and soon Toys R Us. So far this is the only sand I will use.
Most other sands I have found are Quikrete, Play Sand from Fairmount Minerals, and Beach Sand brand from Busy Beaver. I have been unsatisfied with their quality. Most are not tumbled to round the edges, or are only tumbled for 12 hrs....not near the 45 minutes used to prepare Crayola sand, which makes Crayola sand much more reassuring.
My question is, does anyone else have knowledge of equal quality sands, and what is your experience with Crayola sand?
My sandbox has a lid and I have not had any problems with cats, etc. Anyway, my question is specific and not about potential pest/sanitary problems. I have done my research. I appreciate answers specific to my question. Thank you
The Toys R Us sand is likely the Play Sand brand from Fairmount minerals. I found that it did contain a hazard based on the msds sheet. Also Crayola is the only sand so far that has significantly rounded edges. A good thing. Some people might not like the colors getting into the yard though...it is more noticeable. I'm more concerned about safety though
The Safe Sand Company is a good alternative to regular play sand, and it’s completely chemical free, but it is very expensive. http://www.safesand.com/index.htm
Sun Stone brand sand is hard to find but it is over 99% free of the materials that you spoke of.
An alternative that is safe and much cheaper is Pea Gravel, you can get it at craft stores, and home and garden centers.
if any sand box is left out side then it becomes a magnet for cats to pee and crap in so it starts off a lot more health issues
Crayola sand was NOT my favorite. I don’t know what brand it is, but the brand I found that was best for my kids (it was really soft, and stayed the cleanest the longest) was from ToysRUs. It was called some kind of play sand and was about $6 per 50 pound bag. Everybody that came and played in my kids’ sandbox over the last two years has loved it. All the parents ask where I got it, and the kids like it too. It also is really easy to brush off when they’re done playing, so it doesn’t track through the house. The crayola sand is hard to get off, and it’s kind of irritating to the skin. Also, this sand doesn’t stain…it stays light tan the whole time it’s in the box. I buy new sand every year, and ditch it in the fall when the weather turns. Three bags fill up our box, so it’s only $20 a year to keep it up, plus that way nothing too gross can happen to it that way.
As for the rodent/pee problem mentioned above, just cover the sandbox. Mine has a lid…most do, if not, then find a cover for it.