Agent orange

Agent Orange is a herbicide and defoliant chemical, one of the "tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides. It is widely known for its use by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. It was a mixture of equal parts of two herbicides, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D.

History[edit | edit source]

The name "Agent Orange" came from the orange identifying stripe used on the 55-gallon drums in which it was stored. It was by far the most widely used of the so-called "Rainbow Herbicides". The 2,4,5-T used to produce Agent Orange was later discovered to be contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an extremely toxic dioxin compound. In some areas, TCDD concentrations in soil and water were hundreds of times greater than the levels considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Use in Vietnam War[edit | edit source]

During the Vietnam War, between 1962 and 1971, the United States military sprayed nearly 20,000,000 U.S. gallons (75,700,000 l) of chemical herbicides and defoliants in Vietnam, eastern Laos, and parts of Cambodia as part of Operation Ranch Hand, the goal of which was to defoliate forested and rural land, depriving guerrillas of cover; another goal was to induce forced draft urbanization, destroying the ability of peasants to support themselves in the countryside, and forcing them to flee to the U.S. dominated cities, thus depriving the guerrillas of their rural support base and food supply.

Health Effects[edit | edit source]

The health effects of Agent Orange are a matter of significant controversy. Studies have shown a correlation between exposure to Agent Orange and numerous health problems, including various types of cancer, Parkinson's disease, and heart disease. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes certain cancers and other diseases as presumptive of exposure to Agent Orange.

Legal and Diplomatic Proceedings[edit | edit source]

Several lawsuits filed by veterans and Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange against the manufacturers of the product, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto, have made their way through the courts, with varying results. Diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Vietnam regarding the issue of Agent Orange continue to this day.