As a blasting medium, sand has slipped into disfavor. That's because silica dust, inhaled over a period of time, causes silicosis, a damaging and incurable lung disease. Silicosis has also been suspected as the origin of other debilitating health problems like tuberculosis, lung cancer, and heart attacks. National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA) member Dave Olen says it's illegal in the State of California to use silica sand for grit blasting. Tom Davies at Carpenter Brothers, a major Wisconsin supplier of foundry sands, acknowledges that his company doesn't sell silica sand for blasting. If they did, their insurance carrier wouldn't cover them for the liability.
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