Soman is a man-made warfare chemical, also known as a toxic nerve agent. Soman is a clear, colorless, tasteless liquid with a slight camphor odor (for example, Vicks Vapor Rub) or rotting fruit odor. Soman may become a vapor if heated. Soman was originally developed as an insecticide in Germany in 1944.

You can be exposed by touching or drinking the water or by eating food that has been contaminated with soman. If soman is released into the air, you may be exposed through inhalation, skin or eye contact. If your clothes are exposed, they can continue to release the soman vapor for about 30 minutes, which may lead to exposure to other people.

The symptoms will depend on the route, amount and length of time of exposure to soman. The timeline may range from less than 6 hours due to ingestion to 8 hours due to inhalation.

Symptoms will appear within seconds after exposure to the vapor form of soman, and within a few minutes to up to 18 hours after exposure to the liquid form.

This toxic nerve agent causes an imbalance in the operation of the chemical that controls your body’s "off switch" for glands and muscles. If exposed to a low or moderate amount of soman through inhaling, swallowing or skin absorption, you may have symptoms of a runny nose, teary eyes, blurred vision, confusion, sweating, drowsiness, coughing, chest tightness, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, slow or fast heart rate, low or high blood pressure. If exposed to a large dose of soman, you may have loss of consciousness; seizures, paralysis and problems breathing that may lead to death.

If you think you have been exposed, leave the area quickly and get to fresh air. Remove your clothing and quickly wash your entire body with soap and water. If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse them with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before rinsing your eyes. Place your contaminated clothes and contact lenses into a plastic bag and seal. Place the bag into a second plastic bag and seal. If soman has been ingested, do not induce vomiting or give fluids. Call 911 for medical attention right away and removal of the contaminated items. Do not drive yourself to the hospital as you may become very ill on your way.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)