Increased terrorism has brought about an increase in materials, filters, and fitting for the gas masks. The M50 design is a concentrated effort to preserve the wearer’s health and well-being through increasing respiratory protection and military posture. Not everyone who wears a gas mask will be asked to shoot enemies or penetrate. If necessary, protective gas mask provides accurate vision and purpose because the carbon filter matches the mask on the right or left side.
To ensure adequate protective posture, the Department of Defense (DOD) has a minimum quality standard for each part of the mask. The soft black rubber must exceed the minimum permeation requirements for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear environments to be acceptable. The six-point head harness is still the best method for securing the mask.
Gas masks have been tested on radiological particles, certain chemicals, and military CB agents. It is more compact and lightweight than its predecessor, and offers a broad field of view because two separate lenses have been replaced by one lens above the width of the face that reduces visual impairment. Filter style changes make breathing easier.
Chemical agents like mustard (HD) and VX attack the central nervous system and cause physical distress from temporary incapacitation to death. A gas mask is only part of the full gear necessary to keep your body safe from the hazards of nuclear detonation and radiation. Humans cannot taste, feel, smell, or see radiation, usually dispersed from ‘dirty bombs’ in pellet or powder form.