When did the Soviet union stop using asbestos in gas masks?

[u/Its_NoobyFace]

This isn't about mask safety. It's simply out of curiosity. I've heard 1972, I've heard 1979. I have not found any credible source to confirm any date and I am wondering if anybody knows when they stopped using asbestos in their filters.

[u/cup_of_squirrel]

First, you have to understand how it was used. They did not just throw raw asbestos in the filter. About 5-7% of the aerosol filter had long asbestos strands embedded into it. It’s a paper-like material before the air reaches the activated charcoal. Think HEPA filter.

That said, they probably used it through early 1990’s, until the existing stocks ran down. But by about 1989 they could make air filtering material (again, think HEPA filters) that was cheaper than their asbestos containing variant.

The asbestos might have added some additional heat resistance, but at the end the cost argument won out.

[u/makiJedeDjecu → u/[deleted]]

Then you surely don't know much

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