Flexi Says: If you've ever been in a sand storm, you've felt the power of the wind carrying sand particles and blasting at your skin. Over time, this natural sand blasting can be a tremendous erosional force on rocks or buildings. Wind is a stronger erosional force in arid regions than it is in humid regions because winds are stronger. In humid areas, water and vegetation bind the soil so it is harder to pick up. In arid regions, small particles are selectively picked up and transported. In the past, when sandblasting was performed as an open-air job, the worker was exposed to risk of injury from the flying material and lung damage from inhaling the dust. The silica dust produced in the sandblasting process would cause silicosis after sustained inhalation of the dust.
