Abrasives can be classified into one or four general types:-
1.Natural minerals (e.g. silica sand, garnet)
2.Manufactured media (e.g. steel grit/shots, glass grit, plastic pellets/beads, sodium bicarbonate).
3.Mineral Slags (e.g. copper, nickel, iron and coal slag)
4.Organic media (e.g. corn cobs, nut shell, starch grains)

1.1 Garnet does not pollute the atmosphere because it has very low dust emission. Therefore it offers no known health hazard. (See Note)

1.2 When used offshore, does not contaminate or foul the sea-bed nor distrub marinelife.

1.3 Due to its high productivity, less garnet is used and therefore less cleanup and disposal.

1.4 As garnet could be recycled serveral times and also being a nateral non-toxic mineral, it does not crete disposal problems as other slag abrasives do.

Note : Exposure to dust due to blasting can cause eye, throat or lung irritation, coughing or shoress of breath. Chronic Bronchitis, emphysema and other diseases may be aggrevated by exposure to this dust.

Note** The above Chemical Composition readings serve only as a guideline.