| Abstract |
Abrasive blasters using silica sand are at high risk of developing silicosis. Although NIOSH recommended in 1974 that silica sand be banned in abrasive blasting, it is still the highest used blasting abrasive in the United States. However, little objective data exists regarding the effectiveness, operating costs, and concentrations of health-related agents for abrasive blasting substitutes. This study's objective was to compare silica sand's performance characteristics, operating costs, and airborne and bulk concentrations of thirty health-related agents to seven substitute abrasives (silica sand treated with a dust suppressant, coal slag, copper slag, garnet, nickel slag, staurolite, and steel grit) for data collected in an environmentally-controlled laboratory to a partially-controlled field site. Performance characteristics included: cleaning rate, consumption rate, surface profile, breakdown rate, and abrasive embedment. |
