Asbestos in World War 2 gas mask

[mightyug]

Hi there,

I have to admit that I'm rather new to collection of war memorabilia so I'll apologise in advance for the ignorance of my question. I purchased a WW2 respirator at a 1940's weekend in the UK. I rather foolishly assumed that if on open sale that their would be no health risks related with the item. When conducting further research I discovered that asbestos was used in the filters of gas masks in WW2 and no one particularly knows which ones. I've not worn the mask but have had it in the house and so on.

Is there anyone out there who can identify for me if the gas mask does indeed contain asbestos or not? Any advice offered would be greatly received.

Thanks.

[MAP]

will wait for people in the know about gas masks to respond, however based on what I've been told, if it does contain asbestos, it should be fine as long as it is not aggitated so that loose particles begin to be come airborne. If left static in a display it should be fine.

Just don't wear it!

Regards,

Michael

[Tinhat]

I agree with MAP, as long as you don't wear it or disturb the inside of the filter it should be fine. If you are really concerned, keep it stored, double bagged.

Steve.

[big ned]

I seem to remember Ade saying that filling the filter with a type of epoxy resin or similar such substance was a way of sealing in any nasty, cancer-causing-agonising-death particles or fibres.

[douglas2496]

I have poured PVA glue into my filters, it seems to seal them up pretty well.

[big ned]

I have poured PVA glue into my filters, it seems to seal them up pretty well.

You just get high on the fumes then though...........Yeah baby.

[Gunny Hartmann]

http://www.voicetheunion.org.uk/file...ing22Oct13.pdf

Check it out, a lot of old gas masks do indeed contain asbestos!....

[douglas2496]

I think its odds on that this type of mask will contain asbestos. I have one the same and you can easily plug the holes in the filter with plastic padding or epoxy resin, its not a big problem (in fact I didnt use glue on this type due to the small holes being so easy to plug). Also welcome to the forum, and well done on your purchase.

[big ned]

http://www.voicetheunion.org.uk/file...ing22Oct13.pdf

Check it out, a lot of old gas masks do indeed contain asbestos!....

So what, the real danger here is the satsuma rammed in my mouth behind the mask....How bonkers is that eh? I like living on the edge me.

[ruddersrangers44]

Welcome and Nice Resperator,my turn to be ignorant but i never knew they made stockinet covered masks this late into the war as the black type were being issued from 1940 onwards.............