Can relics be hazardous to your health?

[António Fragoeiro]

Hi, a few weeks a go, i went to military antique shop i had found in lisbon.
I spent there a couple of hours because there was so much to see, that i totally lost track of time.
In the middle of a pile of caps, there was an extremely rare portuguese legion cap, when i removed it, a great cloud of dust came upon me.
From there on i was sneezing and scratching my self and had a huge headache.
Next morning i was in bed with a fever.
After a week of recovery, the doctor told me the source had been bacterial.
From now on im going to handle relics a lot more carefully, with gloves and washing my hands very well and a lot more.
I recomend you guys to be carefull with handling relics, we never know where they have been or what happened to them.
Cheers.
Nuno

[diver99]

Same thing happened to me at work. I was cataloguing an iraqi bag, and got sand in my eyes which then got infected. Had to take a week off.
Friend of mine on archaeological dig in belgium and unbeknown had got minor tear gas from WW1 ordnance. Yes it was a proper dig, yes he's qualified.

[pammy]

thats true..i bought a bunch of german flares some time back and one was leaking and the gas from it made me very sick,i did not know it for a month later but it was it for sure.

[Good Pwny]

I've often thought the same thing. I handle a lot of relics with gloves and put most in cases. I don't deal with any live ordnance, as that can def be dangerous.

[Eric Zentner]

thats true..i bought a bunch of german flares some time back and one was leaking and the gas from it made me very sick,i did not know it for a month later but it was it for sure.

Must have been a secret weapon since there was never any "gas" flares.

[cricketchris1944]

Never been sick from relics,but got shrapnel when I was younger a few time.so many stories about getting hurt looking and finding relics.good times.

[Eric Zentner]

Ive learned that old gas mask can be a risk to ware with the asbestos filters.

[Aus der Traum]

True about the masks ez1969, apparently even the masks without asbestos filters can be dangerous due to the activated carbon filter breaking down over the years into a powder which can be inhaled also.

-Joshua

[Dimas]

Trink vodka and noone sickness will attack you

[jimpy]

Trink vodka and noone sickness will attack you