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The sand may not be the main problem. If children are touching the water,
then the smell will be decomposing flakes of human skin: in large
quantities! It is amazing how quickly 'hands-in' water exhibits go
disgustingly stinky. The sand is likely to trap the skin particles and the
various microbes feeding on it, making them impossible to flush away
effectively.  

I reckon this is a serious and underrated biological health hazard with
water exhibits.

I hate to suggest reducing interactivity, but might it be possible to
re-design the exhibit so children can still play with the sand, but without
ever touching it or the water with their hands?

A coarser grade of sand should also help, of course.

Promoting public engagement with science
through a contagious delight in phenomena
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Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
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Ian Russell (Twitter: ianrusselluk)

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