Emergency War Surgery NATO Handbook: Part I: Types of Wounds and Injuries: Chapter VI: Chemical Injury
United States Department of Defense
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While several CW agents produce immediate signs and symptoms, the effects of others may be delayed, depending on the agent concentration and duration of exposure (Table 4). For instance, mustards can seriously damage the skin without immediately producing pain; likewise, pulmonary edema from phosgene may take hours to become manifest. Mixtures of CW agents or newly introduced chemicals further complicate the diagnostice picture. Hence, a holding period following unidentified CW agent(s) exposure, and careful re-examination prior to discharge, may be prudent, circumstances permitting.
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