Do check out the products of Charcoal Cloth (international) Ltd as it has some very great products that cover a who range protection against nuclear/biloogical , or micro particle fall out.
I am just waiting for more info. They do have a company in USA and they can perhaps reply any queries. I am afraid I have no details of this USA branch so do a google search if possible.
Hope this will help some of you looking for a lead on such a product. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Simple industrial full face respirators with the appropriate filters for particulate matter and organic acid vapors are the cheapest and simplest way to protect yourself from chemical and other perceived threats.

Let me re-state good advice previously provided by other forum members. Military surplus gas masks are usually junk with training filters. They offer NO protection from actual chemical or biological agents.

Military surplus gas masks IN GOOD CONDITION (no dry rot of the rubber, may or may not come with hood), with SEALED (in pop-top can) filters should be fine. As an aside, you WILL pay for the privilege...expect $80+ US. Anything less probably means you'll be inhaling something you didn't expect....

Rubber rots sealed or not.
Filters have a shelf life for a reason sealed or not, some turn toxic.
Theres more to a gas mask than the rubber. The mouth piece, eye pieces are all conections that will leak over time.

There is only one! filter that does it all with a 10 yr shelf life and provides full protection against all known biological and chemical agents.
The NATO M-95 filter.

You can use dust masks to hardware store repirators the list is long. Some will filter out some agents but not others.

Ask yourself this question. Did you spend more time and money shopping for a good pc that is just a pc than you are /will a life saving device like a gas mask?

Should you buy one at all? Who knows.

But if you do, buy a good one that you know will do the job when you need it too.

This is not the place to cheap out people.

Mike

Hello from Charcoal Cloth International (CCI). We are owned by the Calgon Carbon Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Calgon manufactured granular activated carbon (GAC) used in water and chemical purification for example, but also supply GAC to respirator manufacturers to use in their canisters.
CCI is based in the UK and we manufacture activated charcoal cloth which is used by manufacturers of NBC clothing for military use. We also manufacture a range of masks or facelets incorporating our cloth, for industrial and security forces use.
Our Carbososrb plus mask is a simple mask primarily for industrial use which also incorporates a particulate filter.
Our NBC mask is used for chemical warfare agent adsorption and has a NATO stock number. It does not contain a particulate filter however.
A development of the NBC mask is our RF1 mask which is essentially a NBC mask with particulate filtration as well.

NOTE: all these masks give some protection against organic vapours. They are intended as devices that can be worn comfortably but are not intended to be a substitute for a full respirator. These masks give the wearer time, in the event of an attack, to locate and put on a full respirator, or to find safe shelter.

Useful contact details:
http://www.chemvironcarbon.com/consumer/cci/applications.htm
CCI: tel: 44 191 584 6962
fax: 44 191 584 6793
www.calgoncarbon.com
Calgon carbon: tel 1-800-422-7266

Regards,

Bob Brown
Sales Director
Charcoal Cloth International

Problem with filters is "what kind of filter is on the mask?" Masks issued to troops for training have simple mechanical (dust) filters effective to remove tear gas particles.
War filters are effective against chemical agents and have a finite life when opened.
My case is that the military discards (declares surplus) things that are broken and worn out, as well as some things that are new, never been opened, and are simply excess stock. I am not willing to take the chance with a surplus mask.
My team, sponsored and funded by the federal government, utilizes fresh off the shelf commercial equipment rather than military equipment.
Why take a chance with your life or safety.

Mike's post was on the money. What is the perceived threat? Do you really need a mask? Are you going to carry it 24/7? What about the rest of your PPE? Where are you going to decon? Carry extra filters?

I agree with Mike, you also have to realise that Military personnel receive enourmous amounts of training and practice in using them. Its not just a case of throwing on the mask, there are inflatable seals to adjust correctly before you use them.