Risk of Asbestos from Old War Memorabilia

30 May 2016

When you think of asbestos, you probably think of it as something present in homes and buildings. However asbestos is also present in many items used in World War One and World War Two.

World War One helmets have been found to contain asbestos. These fibres can become airborne. Wearing the helmet can put you at a serious risk of developing mesothelioma.

World War Two gas masks have also been found to contain asbestos. Wearing a gas mask that contains asbestos also poses a serious risk of mesothelioma.

Not all of these items were made with asbestos, but it is impossible to know which ones contain these dangerous fibres without a laboratory analysis. Some gas masks that underwent a lab analysis found that they contained 15% asbestos. These items are often displayed in museums and used for school plays and re-enactments.  These items were designed to protect soldiers during the wars, but they pose a serious health risk today.

It takes a minimal amount of asbestos to cause mesothelioma and other health problems. Mesothelioma has an extremely long latent period. It can take 20 or even 40 years for symptoms to appear after exposure. Of course by this time, the damage has long been done.

These items don’t have to be lost to history forever. They can be sent to a laboratory for analysis by certified asbestos contractors. If they are found to contain asbestos, it can be removed so that the items are safe.

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