Asbestos in Military Surplus like M65 vintage jacket

[rev101]

I was just wondering if Asbestos was used in the manufacturing of the jacket at all, considering the time frame the use of it was still used in the military, my jacket is a Winfield International M65, I can provide pictures if needed

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[RCS]

I believe the U.S. machine gunner glove used to change barrels has asbestos

[rev101]

Would any trace be used in just standard-issue jackets?

[matthanne1]

I have never seen or heard of asbestos used in making the M65. Military clothing for general purpose use was twill, carded cotton poplin, rayon/polyesters, but never asbestos. An exception was the earlier barrel exchanging glove (I had one clearly labelled 'no asbestos' for an M60 GPMG). Where did you hear of it?

[rev101]

I was looking into military exposure to asbestos, seeing some clothes would use asbestos so I just assumed the worst.

[matthanne1]

Now exposure in the military is another topic, it was used often for insulating exhausts and furnaces, as well as in construction. I believe you would have had it in armored vehicles, some heat liners, etc. Starting in the 1980s and for many years afterwards, military garrisons had isolated off their WW2 billets due to the presence of asbestos in them, as they were 'remediated'. Ft Huachuca for example had acres of the 'old hospital grounds' bagged off. But not in the clothing.

[Eaglelord17]

Your more likely to encounter asbestos in your homes than you are in military surplus equipment of basically any sorts. Other than wiring in vehicles (many older wires could be asbestos lined), asbestos gloves for hot barrels and such (not going to be surplused for obvious reasons), asbestos gaskets and lagging from steam systems or piping, and your other standard home asbestos items (insulation, etc.) your not likely to find it on military surplus equipment.

[jond41403]

The old gas mask filters have asbestos, so I've read

[rev101]

Oh right, was just worried due to the time frame, do you think it could have any like exposure though? It seems fairly unused

[Eaglelord17]

Asbestos exposure is easy to deal with, it isn't radioactive, it is just dust particles. The danger is the fact those particles don't break down and will shred your lungs long term if you have enough exposure over time. Just clean the jacket if your concerned that it might have some exposure.