Zelinsky-Kummant gas mask

Last updated
Zelinsky-Kummant gas mask
Zelinsky-Kummant.jpg
Type Gas mask
Place of originFlag of Russia.svg Russian Empire
Service history
In service1915–1930s
Used bySee Users
Wars World War I
Winter War
Production history
Designer Nikolay Zelinsky and M.I. Kummant
Designed1915
No. produced5,030,660

The Zelinsky-Kummant gas mask was the world's first gas mask with activated carbon [1] [2] which had the ability to absorb a wide range of chemical warfare agents. This gas mask was developed in 1915 by St. Petersburg chemistry professor Nikolay Zelinsky and technologist of the Triangle plant M.I. Kummant. [3] The design was later improved by I. D. Avalov and entered mass production. After adoption by the Imperial Russian Army during World War I, casualties from chemical attacks decreased sharply. [4]

Contents

Soldiers of the 267th Dukhovshchinsky Infantry Regiment wearing Zelinsky-Kummant gas masks, 1916 Soldaty 267 Duhovshinskogo polka.jpg
Soldiers of the 267th Dukhovshchinsky Infantry Regiment wearing Zelinsky-Kummant gas masks, 1916
Soldiers of the Czechoslovak Legion in Zelinsky-Kummant gas masks, 1916-1917 Czech Legion soldiers in gas masks.jpg
Soldiers of the Czechoslovak Legion in Zelinsky-Kummant gas masks, 1916–1917
Soldier wearing a gas mask, photo from the U.S. Army War College Man wearing a Zelinsky-Kummant gas mask.jpg
Soldier wearing a gas mask, photo from the U.S. Army War College
Russian soldiers in Zelinsky-Kummant gas masks, photographed by an American photographer, 1917 Soldiers in trench wearing gas masks 1917.jpg
Russian soldiers in Zelinsky-Kummant gas masks, photographed by an American photographer, 1917
The gas mask preserved in a Finnish museum Selinski-Kummandt-kaasunamaari Kokonaisturvallisuus 2015 01.jpg
The gas mask preserved in a Finnish museum

History

The world's first negative pressure air-purifying respirator for protection against gases and vapours was probably developed by Scottish scientist John Stenhouse, and the invention was then used in limited quantities in some British factories from the mid-19th century. [2]

Early protection from chemical weapons were "wet masks," which were bandages soaked in a solution of hyposulfite, sodium phenolate, methenamine, etc. They functioned based on the chemical binding of toxic substances and were widely used on the fronts of World War I. [5] However, in addition to the obvious difficulties with use in combat conditions, they only helped against a narrow range of gases (of which several dozen were already in use by 1915). [6] Therefore, chemists searched for nonspecific adsorbents with the greatest absorption capacity. The Germans used diatomaceous earth with pumice, while specialists from the Mining Institute used a mixture of slaked lime and caustic soda lime. After numerous experiments, Nikolay Zelinsky suggested activated birch or linden charcoal.

The total number of gas masks of this model received by the army during World War I was 11,185,750 [3] . The use of gas masks and the training of soldiers reduced their losses in gas attacks (1916 - 20%, in 1917 - about 0.5% [7] ). By summer of 1916, several hundred thousand soldiers were "fit tested", and in total the army received 5,030,660 gas masks.[ citation needed ]


Since spring 1917, gas masks were no longer issued to combat units. Troops continued to suffer significant losses from chemical weapons: units on the front line received gas masks without a supply, and fresh reinforcements to the unit were not provided with RPE. [8]

The acute shortage of gas masks meant that, despite its serious shortcomings, this model continued to be used in the Soviet army until the late 1920s. [9]

Flaws

The activated carbon filter perfectly absorbed chlorine at a relatively low concentration. Later, shells and mines were used for chemical attacks; and they were equipped with phosgene, hydrocyanic acid, and other toxic substances. This increased the concentration of toxic substances and changed their chemical composition; and it turned out that in the new conditions, activated carbon alone does not provide the required duration of protection. For example, at a phosgene concentration of 1%, filters began to pass it in less than 6 minutes - while an English filter (with the addition of soda lime with potassium permanganate, in addition to activated carbon) could absorb 5 times more phosgene. Similarly, at a hydrocyanic acid concentration of 0.1%, the service life of Zelinsky filters with activated carbon alone was nine minutes, and with the addition of a chemical absorber took one hour and five minutes. By 1918, English, French, American and German gas mask filters were filled with both activated carbon and chemical absorbers, but in Russia until the very end of the war, they continued to believe in the universality of activated carbon, contrary to the proposals of the Gas Prevention Laboratory of the Chemical Committee at Main Artillery Directorate (ГАУ). [10] In modern industrial gas masks, activated carbon can be saturated with various additives, that is, additives and chemicals are also used.

Substances in the form of aerosols such as fine dust and fog, began to be used for chemical attacks. Small particles passed between large pieces of activated carbon (4–11 mm) unhindered, [10] and there were no aerosol filters in the gas mask boxes.

Another disadvantage of gas masks was difficulty breathing. [11] Some soldiers took off their gas masks, and were poisoned. Some soldiers "fell out of action due to shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness" to the point of loss of consciousness. This was initially attributed to increased respiratory resistance. Accordingly, they began to change the design of the filter. But even when the amount of absorber was reduced to such a small value that the service life turned out to be unacceptably short, the problem could not be solved. Then measurements showed that exhaled air, with an increased concentration of carbon dioxide and a reduced concentration of oxygen (up to 13%), [12] accumulates in the mask and filter - and is then inhaled again. [13] [14] As a result, its concentration in the inhaled air could reach 5.5% (for comparison, the maximum permissible concentration of CO2: average over 8 hours (TWA) - 0.5% (average shift 8 hours); average over 15 minutes (STEL) - 1.4%; t .e. 9 and 27 grams per 1 cubic meter, respectively). [15] After modifications, the gas mask was equipped with exhalation and inhalation valves, and the concentration of carbon dioxide decreased (to approximately 1.3-3.6%, depending on the gas mask model and type of activity). Even after the alterations, the concentration of oxygen in the inhaled air was reduced, and carbon dioxide was increased. [10]

Tests proved it was not always possible to achieve a hermetically sealed connection between the glass and the mask. [16]

Users

References

  1. ↑ Amos, Fries; West, Clarence (1921). "Chapter I. The history of poison gases". Chemical warfare (PDF). New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. p. 7-9 (23-25). Retrieved 6 December 2025. ... Certain of the large chemical manufacturers in London are now (1854) supplying their workmen with the charcoal respirators as a protection against the more irritating vapors to which they are exposed.
  2. 1 2 Adam and Charles Black, ed. (1856). "2. A description, by Dr George Wilson, of Dr J. Stenhouse's Charcoal Respirator for breathing without danger infectious atmospheres; with an account of the recent researches into the deodorizing and disinfectant properties of charcoal. A specimen of the charcoal respirator was shown" (PDF). Transactions of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts. Royal Scottish Society of Arts. 4. Edinburg: Neill and Company. Appendix 14 (O) "Proceedings of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, Session 1853-54"; page 199 in it; or page 729 of 861 in PDF. Retrieved 6 December 2025. Some of the more obvious applications of the respirator were then referred to : — I. Certain of the large chemical manufacturers in London are now (1854) supplying their workmen with the charcoal - respirators as a protection against the more irritating vapours to which they are exposed.
  3. 1 2 De Lazari, Alexander Nikolaevich (2008). "Scientific Editor's Comments [Комментарии]". In Mikhail Supotnitsky (ed.). Chemical Weapons during the First World War 1914-1918: A Brief Historical Overview ["Химическое оружие на фронтах Мировой войны 1914—1918 гг. Краткий исторический очерк"] (in Russian). Moscow: «Вузовская книга». ISBN   978-5-9502-0314-5.
  4. ↑ Нилов Е. И. (1964). Зелинский. ЖЗЛ (in Russian). Moscow: Molodaya Gvardiya. p. 256.
  5. ↑ "От "шлема Гипо" — к защите Зелинского" (in Russian). 2011-10-05. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  6. ↑ De Lazari, Alexander (2008). Chemical weapons on the fronts of the World War 1914-1918. A brief historical overview [Химическое оружие на фронтах Мировой войны 1914—1918 гг. Краткий исторический очерк]. Комментарии (in Russian). Moscow: Вузовская книга. p. 268. ISBN   978-5-9502-0314-5.
  7. ↑ Figurovsky, Nikolai (1942). "Development of activated carbon gas masks [Развитие угольного противогаза]". The history of the development of gas masks in Russia during the First World War (1914-1918) [Очерк развития русского противогаза во время Империалистической войны 1914-1918 гг] (PDF) (in Russian). Moscow-Leningrad: USSR Academy of Sciences. p. 84.
  8. ↑ Purishkevich, Vladimir (1990). The Murder of Rasputin (from the diary) [Убийство Распутина (из дневника)] (in Russian). Moscow: СП "Интербук". pp. 78, 155.
  9. ↑ Avinovitsky, Ya.L. (1928). "3. How to use the Kummant-Zelinsky gas mask [3. Как пользоваться сухим противогазом Кумманта-Зелинского]". In I.S. Unshlikht (ed.). Gas masks. Their design and use [Противогазы. Их устройство и применение] (in Russian) (5th ed.). Moscow: ОСОАВИАХИМ. pp. 43–48.
  10. 1 2 3 G.V. Khlopin (1926). "Русские сухие противогазы". Basics of Gas Protection in the Army [Военно-санитарные основы противогазового дела] (in Russian) (1st ed.). Leningrad: Scientific Chemical and Technical Publishing House. pp. 72–79.
  11. ↑ Kaptsov Valery & Chirkin Alexander (September 2021). Exposure to carbon dioxide during respirator use by workers (review) [Воздействие углекислого газа на работников, использующих респираторы (обзор)] (in Russian) (Presentation at the 16th Russian National Congress with International Participation "Profession and Health" [Доклад на 16 Российском национальном конгрессе с международным участием "Профессия и здоровье"] ed.). Vladivostok. Archived from the original on 2022-01-03. 23
  12. ↑ Figurovsky, Nikolai (1942). The history of the development of gas masks in Russia during the First World War (1914-1918) [Очерк развития русского противогаза во время Империалистической войны 1914-1918 гг] (PDF) (in Russian). Moscow-Leningrad: USSR Academy of Sciences.
  13. ↑ I.I. Andreev (1917). "Chemical composition of air inhaled from the Kummant-Zelinsky respirator [Состав воздуха в респираторе Кумманта-Зелинского во время дыхания]". Collection of publications on gas protection. Issue 1 [Сборник материалов по противогазовым вопросам. Выпуск 1] (in Russian). Petrograd: Military Printing House. pp. 111–113.
  14. ↑ I.G. Bednarzh (1918). "The effect of different respirator models on breathing [К вопросу о дыхании в респираторах разных систем]". Collection of materials on gas protection. Issue 2. [Сборник материалов по противогазовым вопросам. Выпуск 2.] (in Russian). Petrograd: Military Printing House. pp. 1–149.
  15. ↑ Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Роспотребнадзор) (2018). "Substance # 2138 Carbon Dioxide [№ 2138 Углерода диоксид]". Occupational Exposure Limits [ГН 2.2.5.3532-18 "Предельно допустимые концентрации (ПДК) вредных веществ в воздухе рабочей зоны"]. Sanitary and hygienic standards (in Russian). Moscow. p. 145.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) RPN
  16. ↑ I.I. Andreyev (1918). Testing of Kummant-Zelinsky gas masks [Испытание противогазов Кумманта-Зелинского] (PDF) (in Russian). Petrograd: Printing house of the "Artillery Journal". p. 20.

Literature

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