In fact, gas masks used during the war years are now being marked as ‘potentially’ dangerous as they can release asbestos fibres from the filters, as well as being contaminated with harmful chemicals from previous use in gas drills. With hindsight, could these lifesaving devices also be presenting a severe danger? Could Asbestos Affect These Pieces of History? During this time approximately one hundred and seven million civilian gas masks were produced for adults, children and babies. After 1942, and up until about 1965, approximately 3 million ‘Light Respirators (LR)’ were produced, some of them also containing crocidolite filters.Ĭivilian gas masks which were produced between 19, during the height of the Second World War, predominantly contained chrysotile, or white asbestos filters, although some were produced containing crocidolite. In Britain between 19 approximately 25 million military ‘General Service Respirators (GSR)’ were manufactured – and those produced after 1937 contained crocidolite, or blue asbestos filters. Only somewhat less hazardous- do not put on any respirator made prior to (approximately) 1960, which is when they changed from using asbestos paper filters to spun glass filters.WWII Gas Masks: A Life Saver Or A Potential Killer? This post brought to you by the Elves who drink Safe Tea (because elfin safe tea is very important). (Treat it from both ends.) There's always the risk that loose fibres have already escaped into the tube and mask (facepiece) though, so treat any mask with caution. Museums make them safe® for display by pouring glue (PVA adhesive, diluted with water) into the canister and letting it dry. They were fairly safe when manufactured (to the end user, less safe to the assembly workers), but time will have taken its toll. Obviously you should not risk breathing air that has passed through one of them, just on general principles. and release the asbestos fibres into the canister, from which they can escape into the atmosphere. This will degrade over time, due to damp, mould growth, insects, etc. The filter paper used in the canisters was made from a pulp of esparto grass with asbestos fibre added. (It's entirely possible that later canisters with green (and red) stripes also contain blue asbestos.) This is the "Contex" filter, intended to protect against Arsine (Arsenic Hydride), and that canister contains blue asbestos. The civilian (thin rubber) masks used substantially the same filter canister as the civilian duty type.Ī further caution: some respirators have an additional canister fixed to the front of the main filter and coloured green. the "Civilian Duty" variety with a substantial rubber mask that had the filter canister fitted to the front, contained white asbestos (chrysotile), which is somewhat less hazardous. The filter can contains blue asbestos (crocidolite), which is the worst kind. That particular bag is for the "Service" respirator, with the oval can on the end of a hose to the mask. I'm sure you've thought about it, but, if you do get a mask to go in it, be careful as some of the filters were asbestos based - someone on here will recall which ones - and over the years this has degraded leaving asbestos dust in the mask itself to be breathed in by the unwary!ĪLL WW2 respirator filters contained asbestos.
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