Sandbox Sand

[Anonymous]

Any suggestions for the best kind of sand for a sandbox?

[Anonymous]

I just read on Young House Love that most commercial play sand actually has warnings on the bag about it containing known carcinogens--apparently river sand is okay, or another option is pea gravel....I am sure what we have in our sandbox (whatever they stock at Toys R Us) is toxic, but now it's kind of too late to do anything about it.

[Anonymous]

Regular sand is fine.

[Anonymous]

http://www.safesand.com/sand.htm

[Anonymous]

Yes be careful -- some sand has known carcinogens. I would get it from an approved "green" store or one that advertises the sand to be safe for kids.

[Anonymous]

Did you read YHL this morning??

[Anonymous]

Hahaha...I just read YHL and I thought that's what this post was about too! They ended up using pea gravel which is not carcinogenic and easier to clean up, ie no sand in the house.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have suggestions on where to buy non-carcinogenic play sand in DC?

[Anonymous]

California is required to label it carcinogenic because it has silica in it. Silica dust is dangerous in occupational settings (sandblasters). Not in an outdoor sandbox. Regular sand is not a danger to your kids.

[Anonymous]

Its a danger because of inhalation. You don't think kids are inhaling that dust? Especially ground as fine as it is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its a danger because of inhalation. You don't think kids are inhaling that dust? Especially ground as fine as it is?

There is silica dust in the air you breathe every day. It's one of the most common substances that make up the earth's crust. It's dangerous when exposure is heavy and prolonged. If you want to pay more for fake sand, go ahead. But it's not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its a danger because of inhalation. You don't think kids are inhaling that dust? Especially ground as fine as it is?

There is silica dust in the air you breathe every day. It's one of the most common substances that make up the earth's crust. It's dangerous when exposure is heavy and prolonged. If you want to pay more for fake sand, go ahead. But it's not necessary.

Like when you're sitting and playing in it for hours on end every day? I want to avoid sand made only from a known carcinogen marketed to kids.

[Anonymous]

Sanitized Play Sand

The safest play sand for children is sanitized play sand, meaning it does not contain any crystalline silica. The EPA and OSHA recognize that inhalation of crystalline silica (found in quartz) can cause lung damage, disease or cancer. To keep its consumers safe and aware, the State of California places a label on play sand containing crystalline silica that reads: "This product contains crystalline silica, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, and other substances which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm."

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has Mandates
Check your play sand's packaging label. In February 2009 it was mandated by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) that consumer products intended for children 12 and under cannot contain phthalate levels greater than .1 percent (one-tenth of 1 percent) in any accessible part. Safe play sand will adhere to this.

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Reaction Calorimetry
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Safe Play Sand is Washed Play Sand
Look at how your play sand was manufactured or mined. If it is "washed sand," it was surface mined, screened and machine-washed to remove clay and silt. After all this it is thoroughly dried.

Keep It Safe

To keep your play sand safe, it needs to be cared for. Replace it at least every two years, and cover it when not in use. Be sure it has a sufficient drainage system, and keep it as dry as possible.

Use Your Judgment
Do not be afraid of playground sandboxes, schoolyard playgrounds or other areas your children frequent. Strictly forbidding exposure to different sands will likely affect your children more than if you let them safely explore and play.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5951412_play-sand-safe-children_.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its a danger because of inhalation. You don't think kids are inhaling that dust? Especially ground as fine as it is?

There is silica dust in the air you breathe every day. It's one of the most common substances that make up the earth's crust. It's dangerous when exposure is heavy and prolonged. If you want to pay more for fake sand, go ahead. But it's not necessary.

Like when you're sitting and playing in it for hours on end every day? I want to avoid sand made only from a known carcinogen marketed to kids.

If you have them in an unventilated area, then it's possibly dangerous. If they are outside, it's no big deal. Companies are capitalizing on your fears when there's no real reason to worry. It's like formaldehyde. That's carcinogenic, too. But your body naturally makes it and it's circulating in your bloodstream and exhaled when you breathe. But everyone goes nuts about it because it gets talked up in parenting forums, blogs, and articles everywhere. California also requires anything that contains formaldehyde to be labeled as carcinogenic. Again, it's all about frequency and quantity of exposure, not the element itself.

[Anonymous]

And where do you get sanitized play sand? All the play sand I've found so far is made from crystalline silica