Does MDPH recommend the purchase of gas masks?
A. No, neither the federal Centers for Disease Control nor the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommend the purchase or use of gas masks. In the remote event of a terrorist successfully releasing an organism into the air, a gas mask would have to be worn 24 hours a day to be effective. Because it is not feasible or healthy to wear gas masks for extended periods of time, it is not recommended that individuals purchase gas masks for this type of use. Used incorrectly, gas masks can cause more harm than good.
