The Gas Mask
| The First Gas Mask | Modern Gas masks |
![]() |
![]() |
What A gas mask must do.
A gas mask is essentially a filter or a scrubber. It removes something from the air and transmits only that which is needed to the host or the person wearing the mask.
Humans and other living objects need air to survive. Ideally this air is composed of Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and a few other gasses. in recent years the carbon dioxide in cities and in the world in general has increased dramatically also tons of chemicals have been released into the air by factories and the burning of garbage. When it rains, these chemicals are brought down to the earth and that rain is called Acid Rain.
Humans are used to taking for granted that there will always be a plentiful supply of air on every point of the earth. But in modern times we live with the threat of our oxygen supply being removed or some gas injected into the air which if inhaled will cause sickness and death.
Modern humans have also devised diabolical methods to disseminate deadly germs into the air, which if inhaled may cause the human being to suffer grievously and die.
Yet another threat comes form the possibility of breathing air contaminated by nuclear radiation which can cause cancer.
The most important part of all this is not concerned with the mask itself but with other things. for example.....
Miss any of these and your gas-mask could be useless, its all or nothing.
The psyche of normal human being is that he will never be affected by anything averse. It will always happen on the other side of the world and then he will see it in the news on TV. Many are lost because they have failed to prepare or have waited for the last moment. Others are plain macho and their heads are firmly routed in cinema and they hope to escape magically like Steven Segal or Arnold Switchedtonigger or maybe they can talk their way out from the bottom of their necks like Sylvester Stallone. The parable of the Foolish Bridesmaids was told for this day and time.
Against all these odds must the gas mask prevent us. So the gas masks are classified as Chemical, Nuclear and Biological. Having a mask with all three protections is called a NBC mask. The duration of the mask usage is also very important. Is it in hours, days or weeks?
Having a mask is not enough one must use it and that too properly. But long before that one must buy a mask that is suitable and of a very high quality. Protection and storage of the mask is equally important. A very expensive mask can be spoilt by opening the inlet stopper and forgetting to close it. If so the chemicals will be worn out and rendered useless when actually needed. Never tamper with the mask and try to see what's inside you can permanently damage the mask. A mask must always be stored in its housing or in a clean airtight plastic bag.
Beware of the filter component you have. There are filters for various gasses and uses, make sure you have a NBC one. it is also advisable to keep a few spare filters at hand.
The most important factor is to have a good fit around one's face. if there is even a small gap between the face and the mask then air might enter directly from this flaw instead of the the filter. Ironically it is not the tightness that matters but rather how snuggly the mask fits.
What about exhaling? Many masks contain a very sophisticated valve that allows air to go out but nothing to enter. Others have it built into the filter.
How does one eat and drink? When ones life is in extreme danger one wouldn't worry about eating. One can only drink through a special straw or inlet built into the mask. This valve gives access to water and other nutrients that you have stored up for that day.
| Did you know that your vacuum cleaner is a very good air purifier. The air that leaves the vacuum cleaner is about 95% clean. Just close the room, prop the intake pipe against a chair in the center of the room facing upwards and run the vacuum cleaner on high. Almost all the air in the room will be filtered. |
What about talking? One would imagine bending over and screaming "gillfudix kjhjkhwrtyu" but some masks have a built in diaphragm that vibrates and allows one to be heard audibly and understandably.
What about the eyes and ears? Never buy a mask that does not have protection for the eyes. Chemical irritants can render you blind in a single day. Masks that cover the entire head is an additional advantage.
How does a mask filter?
The miracle of the mask lies in something known as "activated charcoal". This material is available naturally and is very cheap to manufacture even. One can make it in one's backyard by half-burning coconut shells in the absence of air. The resultant is a chalky black substance that can adsorb more that 200-300 times its own volume of gas. Many gases are adsorbed by this material and is used in all room and water purifiers.
The other miracle substance got locally is called Zeolite and is obtained from volcanic rock. The dimensions of the holes in this rock are very important and various types are available. They have tiny amounts of electricity roaming around them which act as traps and can to used to trap almost any gas or air-borne toxins.
WHAT IS ZEOLITE?
Hydrated
Alumino-Silicate
How was it formed?
Volcanic ash and glass that fell into briney lakes/swamps and crystallised
What is its main
characteristic? Charged, 3-dimensional honeycomb (“electro-magnetic
sponge”)
Z-C ORE
Description
- pinkish coloured rock (Hardness 4)
Composition
- matrix of 3 zeolites (50% approximately) + clays, quartz and feldspars
PROPERTIES
Natural conductor
(surface and bulk)
High sorption,
ion-exchange and binding energies
Inherently
electrically charged (-)
Durable and
regenerative
Selective ion-exchange
capacity
pH, chemical and
temperature stable
High porosity and very
large reactive surface area
Environmentally beneficial
| SCUBA diving equipment is also very effective but only underwater. Above water the mouth and nose and not perfectly sealed. But in an emergency everything makes sense. |
Then we have the micron meshes that mechanically obstruct the particles in the air and can be anything from 5 micron to 500 micron.
The very humble cotton wool is very effective in cleaning the air as is its cousin -cloth.
Various combinations of chemicals are also used to chemically convert the toxins in the air.
| Commercial Air-Purifiers are very effective in cleaning the air. They run day and night purifying the air and are very effective in scrubbing indoor air. In the terrorist era they have become a necessity. |
Who produces Gas masks?
The Israelis are the largest producer of gas masks followed by the Russians and recently the Japanese. Almost all the gas masks used in the United States are manufactured by the Israelis.
How much does a gas mask cost?
A low quality one costs about $40 and a very good one can cost as much as $250 but what is money where its a matter of life or death.
How long will a gas mask be effective?
Depending on the quality the gas mask can last from a few hours to several days of usage. With a change of the canister or filter component the mask can last indefinitely.
In an emergency can I make a gas mask?
A proper gas mask is the best bet failing which you can make a mask at home which will give you some protection but will definitely not be as good as one you buy commercially. click here for instructions