Agent White

Agent White is a herbicide and defoliant chemical that was used by the United States military during the Vietnam War as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand.

Composition

Agent White is a mixture of picloram and 2,4-D. The chemical compound was named for the white stripe painted on the barrels to identify the contents. Unlike its more infamous counterpart, Agent Orange, Agent White did not contain the toxic contaminant dioxin.

Use in Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used Agent White extensively to defoliate forests and crops that were used as cover by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. The use of Agent White and other herbicides and defoliants during the war has been linked to a wide range of health problems among veterans and Vietnamese civilians.

Health Effects

Exposure to Agent White has been associated with a variety of health problems, including cancer, neurological disorders, and birth defects. However, the evidence linking Agent White to these health problems is less clear than the evidence linking Agent Orange to similar health problems. This is largely because Agent White did not contain dioxin, the toxic contaminant found in Agent Orange that has been most clearly linked to health problems.

See Also

• Agent Orange
• Agent Blue
• Agent Purple
• Herbicidal warfare
• Vietnam War