Nearly 70 public schools will be closed due to an ongoing asbestos scare after the toxic substance was reported in further brands of children's sand products.

Monday's compulsory closures in the ACT follow the shutdown of 23 schools and preschools there on Friday after the consumer watchdog warned a coloured sand may contain asbestos traces.

Some school closures could last days as decontamination work continues.

One Brisbane school was also closed on Friday, but others remained open around the nation, though the suspect products were identified at some sites.

Asbestos removal contractors worked over the weekend to remove asbestos-tainted sand supplied by Officeworks from ACT schools.

But the ACT Education Department was obliged on Sunday to notify the closure of 69 schools on Monday a

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