Creation of Agent Orange
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Agent Orange, a chemical that would kill and cause deformities in millions of lives up until today, but why? Agent Orange was created and sold to the U.S military from Monsanto Company, who was assisted in making it by Dow Chemical Company. During Vietnam the chemical was sold as a sort of fertilizer spray from 1961-1971. The long term effect of such a chemical was unknown to most Americans at the time, even U.S soldiers. The chemical was produced in order to be sprayed onto vegetation and kill it. By doing so, it got rid of much of the enemy Vietnam cover in the trees, making the fighting much easier for U.S troops. The total estimate in acres of spray used is close to 4.5 millions acres, and a total of 20 millions gallons. The spray reached roads, farmland, canals, rivers, and even foods. No one really knew the long term effect of dioxin, a chemical used in Agent Orange.
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DioxinDioxin is the most dangerous chemical found within Agent Orange. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones. They can survive a long time in the environment because they are what is known as a persistent organic pollutant, meaning they take a long time to break down. The Red Cross estimates that three million Vietnamese have been affected by dioxin, including at least 150,000 children born with serious birth defects. Millions of Americans and Vietnamese are still affected, directly and indirectly, by the wartime U.S. spraying Agent Orange and other herbicides over southern and central Vietnam. In fact the United States sprayed more then 20 times the recommended concentration. Even though the production of Agent Orange was halted in the 1970's, the danger still remained due to the half life of Agent Orange being roughly 10-12 years.
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Effect of Agent Orange on Vietnam CitizensWith the lifespan of dioxin it is nearly impossible for the Vietnam people to avoid during the war. The dioxins in Agent Orange were present everywhere, in the river, soil, and food chain. After scientists have studied dioxins they found that even with a short term interaction they can cause severe issues. Some issues include, liver problems, two kinds of diabetes, darkening of skin, acne like spots on the skin known as chloracne, heart disease, hormone dysfunction, muscular dysfunction, immune system disorders, and even nerve disorders. Not only were current people dealing with the effect of dioxin, but fetus' had major issues with being exposed to the toxin. Fetus developed severe problems such as spina bifida, an issue where there are air gaps in the spine, miss carriages, along with brain and nerve issues.
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Effect of Agent Orange on VeteransNot only were the problems showing up in Vietnam, but also back in American households. Multiple reports of strange deformities and other cancers were being reported in Veteran households. The main people in charge of the Agent Orange spraying knew what the dioxin could cause, but weren't afraid of the effects due to it only being used on the enemy. They hadn't thought it would be possible for themselves to get contaminated. Thankfully justice was served for the U.S veterans. In 1979 a lawsuit was pressed to aid those 2.4 million veterans effected by the dioxin. Within five years of the lawsuit the U.S government issued a total of $180 million dollars to be given to veterans and there children in aid of the toxin. During the lawsuit, almost 300 other lawsuits brought up by other veterans raised the total amount to about $240 million. Finally in 1991, George H.W. Bush passed the Agent Orange Act. The act covered the medical bills on almost all illnesses related to Agent Orange.
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Work Cited
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Second Biennial Update). “Reproductive Effects.” Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 1998., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1999, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK230787/#:~:text=There%20were%20a%20total%20of,and%20anomalies%20of%20genital%20organs.
“What Is Agent Orange?” The Aspen Institute, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/agent-orange-in-vietnam-program/what-is-agent-orange/#:~:text=Agent%20Orange%20was%20a%20herbicide,to%20have%20harmful%20impact%20today.
“Dioxins: Definition, Dangers, Sources, Types, and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17685.
EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/dioxin/learn-about-dioxin#:~:text=Dioxins%20are%20called%20persistent%20organic,and%20can%20interfere%20with%20hormones.
History.com Editors. “Agent Orange.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2 Aug. 2011, https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange-1.
“What Is Agent Orange?” The Aspen Institute, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/agent-orange-in-vietnam-program/what-is-agent-orange/#:~:text=Agent%20Orange%20was%20a%20herbicide,to%20have%20harmful%20impact%20today.
“Dioxins: Definition, Dangers, Sources, Types, and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17685.
EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/dioxin/learn-about-dioxin#:~:text=Dioxins%20are%20called%20persistent%20organic,and%20can%20interfere%20with%20hormones.
History.com Editors. “Agent Orange.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2 Aug. 2011, https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange-1.
