89254-46-6

Soman (GD), a fluorinated organophosphorus compound. Exposure to soman can cause death in minutes. A fraction of an ounce (1 to 10 mL) of soman on the skin can be fatal. When pure, GD is a colorless liquid with fruity odor. With impurities, or upon aging, GD is an amber to dark brown oily liquid with an odor of rotten fruit or camphor (like Vicks Vapo-Rub). Do not rely on odor for detection; not everyone can smell low concentrations of this chemical.

Agent GD, an organic fluoride compound, is a quick-acting chemical warfare nerve agent (nerve gas). Medical treatment of soman is difficult because it permanently binds to receptors in the body in minutes. Large amounts of the vapor or liquid can hurt you in minutes, and can quickly lead to death.

Inhalation: Hold breath until respiratory protective mask is donned. If severe signs of agent exposure appear (chest tightens; pupil constriction; a lack of coordination; etc.); immediately administer, in rapid succession,all three Nerve Agent Antidote Kit(s); Mark I injectors (or atropine if directed by the local physician). Injections using the Mark I kit injectors may be repeated @ 5 to 20 minute intervals if signs and symptoms are progressing until three series of injections have been administered. No more injections will be given unless directed by medical personnel. In addition, a record will be maintained of all injections given. If breathing has stopped, give artificial respiration. Mouthto-mouth resuscitation should be used when approved mask-bag of oxygen delivery systems are not available. Do not use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when facial contamination exists. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. Seek medical attention Immediately.
Eye contact: Immediately flush eyes with water for 10 15 minutes, then don respiratory protective mask. Although miosis (pinpointing of the pupils) may be an early sign of agent exposure, an injection will not be administered when miosis is the only sign present. Instead, the individual will be taken immediately to the medical treatment facility for observation. Skin contact: Don respiratory protective mask and remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with copious amounts of soap and water; 10% sodium carbonate solution, or 5% liquid household bleach. Rinse well with water to remove decontaminant. Administer nerve agent antidote kit, Mark I, only if local sweating and muscular twitching symptoms are present. Seek medical attention Immediately. Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. First symptoms are likely to be gastrointestinal. Immediately administer Nerve Agent Antidote kit, Mark I. Seek medical attention immediately. If there is no apparent breathing, artificial resuscitation will be started immediately, but do not use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when facial contamination exists; in this case, use mechanical resuscitator. The situation will dictate method of choice. When appropriate and trained personnel are available, CPR may be necessary.
Notes for physician and qualified medical personnel: An individual who has received a known agent exposure or who exhibits definite signs or symptoms of agent exposure shall be given an intramuscular injection immediately with the MARK I kit auto-injectors. Some of the early symptoms of a vapor exposure may be rhinorrhea (runny nose) and/or tightness in the chest with shortness of breath (bronchial constriction). Some of the early symptoms of a percutaneous exposure may be local muscular twitching or sweating at the area of exposure followed by nausea or vomiting. Although myosis (pin-pointing of the pupils) may be an early sign of agent exposure, an injection shall not be administered when myosis is the only sign present. Instead, the individual shall be taken immediately to the medical facility for observation. Injections using the MARK I kit injectors (or atropine only if directed by the local physician) may be repeated @ 5 to 20 minutes intervals if signs and symptoms are progressing until three series of injections have been administered. No more injections will be given unless directed by medical personnel. In addition, a record will be maintained of all injections given. Administer, in rapid succession, all three MARK I kit injectors (or atropine if directed by the local physician) in the case of SEVERE signs of agent exposure. If indicated, CPR should be started immediately. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be used when approved mask-bag or oxygen delivery systems are not available. Do not use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when facial contamination exists. CAUTION: atropine does not act as a prophylactic and shall not be administered until an agent exposure has been ascertained.

UN2810 Toxic liquids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poison Inhalation Hazard, Technical Name Required. Military driver shall be given full and complete information regarding shipment and conditions in case of emergency. AR 50-6 deals specifically with the shipment of chemical agents. Shipments of agent will be escorted in accordance with AR 740-32

Hydrolyzed by water to form hydrogen fluoride and the nontoxic phosphonic acid derivative. It is rapidly hydrolyzed by dilute aqueous NaOH Stable after storage in steel for 3 months @ 65 C. Raising the pH increases the rate of decomposition significantly. GD decomposes slowly in water; will hydrolyze to form HF-H-H-O-CH3 and (CH3)3-C-C-O-P-OH. GD reacts readily with bases and weak acids. Under acid conditions, GD hydrolyzes, forming hydrofluoric acid (HF). Flammable hydrogen gas produced by the corrosive vapors reacting with metals, concrete, etc., may be present. Corrosive to steel and possibly other ferrous metals. GD corrodes steel at the rate of 1×10-5 in/month. When heated to decomposition or on contact with steam, it emits very toxic fumes of fluorides and oxides of phosphorus.

Principles and methods for destruction of chemical weapons: “Destruction of chemical weapons” means a process by which chemicals are converted in an essentially irreversible way to a form unsuitable for production of chemical weapons, and which in an irreversible manner renders munitions and other devices unusable as such. Each nation shall determine how it shall destroy chemical weapons, except that the following processes may not be used: dumping in any body of water, land burial, or open-pit burning. It shall destroy chemical weapons only at specifically designated and appropriately designed and equipped facilities. Each nation/shall ensure that its chemical weapons destruction facilities are constructed and operated in a manner to ensure the destruction of the chemical weapons; and that the destruction process can be verified under the provisions of this Convention . A minimum of 55 g of decontamination solution is required per gram of soman (GD). A minimum of 65 g of decontamination fluid per gram of soman (GD) is allowed to agitate for a minimum of 1 hour. Agitation is not necessary following the first hour provided a single phase is obtained. At the end of the first hour the pH should be checked and adjusted Up to 11.5 with additional NaOH as required. An alternate solution for the decontamination of soman (gd) is 10% sodium carbonate in place of the 10% NaOH solution above. Continue with 55 g of decon per gram of gd. Agitate for 1 hour and allow to react for 3 hours. At the end of the third hour, adjust the pH to above 10. It is also permitted to substitute 5.25% sodium hypochlorite for the 10% NaOH solution above. Continue with 55 g of decon per gram of soman (GD). Agitate for 1 hour and allow to react for 3 hours, then adjust the pH to above 10. Scoop up all material and place in a fully removable head and a high density polyethylene liner. Cover the contents with additional decontaminating solution before affixing the drum head. After sealing the head, the exterior of the drum shall be decontaminated and then labeled in accordance with IAW EPA, and DOT regulations. All contaminated clothing will be placed in a fully removable head drum with a high density polyethylene liner. Cover the contents of the drum with decontaminating solution as above before affixing the drum head. After sealing the head, the exterior of the drum shall be decontaminated and then labeled per IAW EPA, and DOT regulations. All leaking containers shall be overpacked with vermiculite placed between the interior and exterior containers. Decontaminate and label in accordance with IAW EPA, and DOT regulations. Conduct general area monitoring to confirm that the atmospheric concentrations do not exceed the exposure limits. Waste disposal method: Open pit burning or burying of soman (GD) or items containing or contaminated with soman (GD) in any quantity is prohibited. The detoxified soman (GD) (using procedures above) can be thermally destroyed by incineration in an EPA approved incinerator in accordance with appropriate provisions of federal, state and local RCRA regulations. NOTE: Several states define decontaminated surety material as a RCRA Hazardous Waste.