Hundreds of daycare centres in the Netherlands have stopped allowing children to play with decorative sand products following an investigation by the AD showing that some sand contained asbestos.

“According to the supplier the sand is safe, but we got rid of it as a precaution,” Deirdre Bernard of childcare umbrella organisation Partou, which represents 764 creches, said. Other daycare groups have also removed the sand as a precaution, the AD reported on Monday.

Six of 12 products checked by researchers on behalf of the AD contained asbestos, the paper said.

Partou has called for an extensive investigation by product safety board NVWA although the regional health authority GGD said the contact with any asbestos fibres in sand will be “minimal and not pose a big risk”.

Parents, schools and creches are advised, however, to stop using the sand until more information is available. The NVWA has also asked companies which sell sand for children to play with to suspend deliveries.

The NVWA, which had already started looking into the matter after news of contaminated sand in Australia, said the investigation will take time.

“At this moment we cannot say if or to what extent the products are harmful. We understand parents are worried and we will do out best to make our findings public as quickly as possible,” the organisation said.

The NVWA said worried parents should throw away the sand by wetting it and wrapping it in a plastic bag. They can contact the council to find out where to take it.