Other methods of cleaning a surface employing the combination of compressed air and "media", such as plastic beads, glass beads, sand, aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide, can damage cleaning surfaces by removing more than just the unwanted debris. This can cause scarring and/or de-lamination.

Other blast cleaning media are usually not as environmentally responsible, depending on the cleaning technician's process and choice of location(s). Some, or all of the media can be left behind, flowing down public drains into sewer systems, lakes, streams, the ocean, and/or seeping into the soil.

The use of most alternative blast cleaning media, such as glass, sand, plastic, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, etc., if not used with the proper safety equipment and processes, can negatively affect the health of the operators and/or others in the immediate area.