ABSTRACT
Guides for Emergency Response: Chemical Agent or Weapon: Nerve Agent Soman (GD) Introduction: Soman nerve gas (GD) is defi ned as Pinacolyl methyl phosphonofl uoridate, methyl-1, 2, 2-trimethyyl ester. It is a colorless liquid with a fruity or camphor odor. It undergoes “aging” very quickly, rendering oxime therapy and making poisoning with this agent more diffi cult to treat. Like most chemical nerve agents, soman‘s course of death may be caused by anoxia resulting from airway obstruction, weakness of the muscle of respiration and central depression of respiration. Airway obstruction is due to pharyngeal muscular collapse, upper airway and bronchial secretions, bronchial constriction, and, occasionally, laryngospasm and paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Respiration is shallow, labored, and rapid and the casualty may gasp and struggle for air. Cyanosis increases. Respiration becomes slow and then ceases. Unconsciousness ensures. Th e blood pressure falls, and cardiac rhythm may become irregular and death may be the result without assisted ventilation.
