Smyth’s Toys asbestos alert: Everything you need to know

A concerned mum spoke of her fear after she realised her son may have swallowed the contents of a toy recalled due to asbestos concerns.

Charli Aitken, said her “heart dropped” when she found out the Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs toy that her three-year-old son Rudi swallowed in February may have contained asbestos.

At first, Ms Smyth, from Lincoln, had been told by retailer Smyths Toys that the ‘dinosaur sand’ in the product was “not considered dangerous” and made of plaster of Paris.

But on April 1, the product was among a number recalled by Smyths as the sand found in the set “may be contaminated with a quantity of asbestos”.

The recall, listed via the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), “presents a risk to health as the sand-like material inside the toy may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos”.

Asbestos is banned in the UK and poses a risk even at low levels of exposure.

Ms Airoen said she had turned around to look at Rudi when she noticed he had taken a “big spoonful of this dinosaur sand”.

She told the BBC: “I turned around and Rudi had taken a big spoonful of this dinosaur sand. He looked at me and smiled and his mouth was full of plaster.

“I phoned NHS 111 who put me on to the poison team. They said the risk was in case there was anything toxic in the product.”

She said she contacted Smyths and the company told her the contents of the toy were non-toxic.

Six weeks later, she received an email that contained a product recall notice.

Ms Aitken said the advice she had received meant she did not seek medical treatment for Rudi and she was left feeling “confused” about why she had not been contacted directly by Smyths. She said she raised her concerns 16 times before she received a response.

Smyths told the BBC: “The European Commission & OPSS (Office for Product Safety and Standards UK) are undertaking a review of these (sand toy) products.

“We trust their scientific expertise and independence and await their findings and guidance.

“Smyths Toys have tested the product 166403 – Lets Dig Out Dinosaur Figures Eggs 10 Pack Set and this has shown trace levels of asbestos.

“Although the health risk is low, Smyths Toys Superstores is recalling these products as a precaution.”

Asbestos causes mesothelioma, a kind of cancer that usually starts in the layers of tissue that cover the lungs.

It is a “general name given to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have crystallised to form fibres” the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in its advice on the product.

It is resistant to fire, heat, and does not dissolve in water, meaning it was commonly used in a range of products, including building insulation, cement for roofing sheets, car brakes and floor tiles.

People can be exposed to asbestos naturally in the environment because of the “natural weathering “ of ores containing asbestos, or the breaking down of asbestos-containing products.

If fibres are intact, they pose little risk to humans, but damage can cause fibres to be released.

The most likely way a person is exposed to asbestos is “by breathing in fibres that are suspended in air”, the UKHSA said.

“People also may swallow small amounts of the fibres if the asbestos enters the soil or drinking water,” the health body added. “Although asbestos does not dissolve, fibres may enter water after being eroded from natural sources, from asbestos-cement or from asbestos-containing filters.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said there is “no consistent evidence” that ingested asbestos is hazardous to health, according to the UKHSA.

In an initial recall on April 1, Smyths recalled the seven products, listed with product codes, and they are as follows:

Those who have purchased any of the above products are advised to stop using them immediately.

If the sand is still in its packaging, then people are advised to “place in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double tape it securely, label it clearly and store in a secure location out of the reach of children”, the OPSS said.

The sand should be kept away from children.

If the sand has been used, the sites where it was used must be cleaned. This can be done with wet cloths to “avoid generating dust” while wearing gloves and a mask. The sand should be double-bagged, along with the gloves, mask, and clothes.

Products can be returned to Smyths for a full refund.

Three stretchy toys were later recalled over asbestos concerns.

The HGL Stretchy Sand Monster Truck, Scrunchems Stretchies Sleepy Dino Toy and HGL Stretchy Sand Pig were recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).

All three toys are said to originate from China and are distributed by One For Fun Limited.

One for Fun chief executive David Mordecai said tests revealed three products contained “contained trace contamination”.

He said: “We take product safety extremely seriously. As a result, we have discontinued the use of sand as a filler in all current and future products.

“We remain committed to the highest safety standards and will continue to monitor and review our materials and processes accordingly.”