What do we need gas masks for?
 

Besides, gas of course. I am seeing them on the news often, lately.

Just a bunch of paranoia about chemical and biological weapons, most likely.:mad:

We Americans will react in many varied ways when confronted with a tragedy, from what I've observed since....

Hey All, I am not sure whether u mean in general or from seeing everyone on TV with them. I know the reason they have been using them now, is to help filter out the dirt and particles from being around all of the crumbling buildings, when it's that much particles and soot and dust, it makes it really hard for them all to breathe and function properly.
DGPhoney~

DGPhoney is correct...
 

The firefighters and other rescue workers are wearing the masks because of the poisonous gases seeping from the World Trade Center disaster site. Asbestos and jet fuel are just a couple of the things that the gas masks protect the workers from during the rescue operation.

This is a little sickening . . .
 

I was talking to some military personel that I know, and yes the fumes are a factor in the masks . . . however, its been over a week since the attack and most of the bodies are still unrecovered as well as many being in pieces or burned beyond recognition. 5000 + bodies.

The smell must be horrific, although they are not mentioning it on the news so as not to horrify people. In times past they used to put wintergreen in the masks to compete with the smell, hopefully the masks have become better since . . .

I must have been spacing out. With the huge inferno/collapse, there must be huge amounts of asbestos-based insulation fragments scattered all around the sites...

Also, I totally see the point about the bodies...and the undeniable side effects....

Well, there are certan gasses that masks do not work because it is absored through the skin!

I know, I worked in a chemical factory in college and had my blood tested daily.
I wore respiators but what the he--! It was not only breathing it was ingestited through the skin!

They wear the mask bcause of the smoke and stench of dead bodies that they are looking for. If you never smelled that before, it is something you never forget!

People are buying out dated military masks, does that tell you something!

The troops in Kuwaitt wore maskes and you have NO idea how many of these people got verrrryyyy sick!