AGENT ORANGE

In light of the current war in Iraq we cannot forget the many veterans who still suffer from atrocities perpetrated on them in previous wars. In Vietnam the chemical agent of choice was Agent Orange. This herbicide was used in the Vietnam from 1962 until 1971 in order to kill dense jungle vegetation. Agent Orange derived its name from the orange-striped barrels in which it was shipped. Agent Orange has been linked to spina bifida (a birth defect), and tentatively linked to respiratory cancers, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma (cancer), neuropathies, and porphyria cutanea tarda (a skin disorder) (Childhood). The spraying of Agent Orange in Vietnam may have boosted the risk or rare illnesses striking families by between 70% and 300% (Agent).

The effects of Agent Orange are still being felt today as blood samples taken from 1999-2000 demonstrate that 19 out of 20 Bien Hoa City residents showed levels of TCDD---the highly toxic dioxin contaminant of Agent Orange---up to 135 times higher than in a comparison group (Nation’s). According to local officials of Cam Nghia, one in 10 children have a serious birth defect, including spina bifida and missing or malformed limbs (Vietnam). Research findings that have accumulated over a long period of time seem to support the possibility of a link between Agent Orange exposure and Type 2 diabetes. After the release of this report, VA proposed that diabetes be added to the list of presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure. The proposal will take several months until it is implemented, after which time Vietnam veterans with diabetes can apply for disability compensation (Type 2).

According to New Scientist the U.S. used aeroplanes to spray 70 million liters of the defoliant Agent Orange, which was contaminated with the particularly potent dioxin TCDD, during the Vietnam War almost 30 years ago. The Ecologist states that Monsanto was one of the principal companies involved in supplying the American military with the 19 million gallons of herbicide used during the Vietnam War. In the rush to meet the military’s demand for this defoliant, a dioxin contaminant became concentrated in the manufacturing process. Dioxin is strongly suspected of being carcinogenic in humans, and it is known to disrupt the body’s hormonal, reproductive and immune systems in a variety of ways (Innocent).

The compound name is Agent Orange with synonyms as follows: Butyl 2, 4-D with butyl 2, 4, 5-T; 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid butyl ester with butyl (2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxy) acetate. The molecular formula is C24H27C15O6. The synthesis 2,4,5-T (2,4,5.-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid; 545.4.Kg/m3) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; 485.1 Kg/m3), altogether weighing 1 285 Kg/m3; a herbicide; associated with the (2,4,5-T moiety is the impurity dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) (chemfinder).

Let us not forget that chemical weapons remain one of the most lethal of all weapons because of the long-term effects. Effects that can affect offspring and future generations.

References

Agent Orange Exposure Linked to Type 2 Diabetes. Nation’s
    Health, Dec 2000/Jan 2001, Vol. 30 Issue 11, p11.

Agent Orange Linked to Leukemia, Contamination. Nation’s
    Health, Jul 2001, Vol. 31 Issue 6, p5.

Agent Orange Might Boost the Risk of Leukemia, UNC
    Researcher Says. University of North Carolina
    At Chapel Hill (http://www.unc.edu/).

Agent Orange: the poisoning of Vietnam. The Eciologist.
    V 28 no 5 (Sept/Oct. 1998) p.264-5.

Childhood Cancer and Agent Orange Linked. About.com.
    April 24, 2001.

Foul fare. New Scientist. V. 170 no. 2292 (May 26, 2001)
    p.13.

Innocent Victims. New Scientist. V.160 no 21454
    (October 3, 1998) p. 18-19.

Vietnam. Life, Jul99, Vol. 22 Issue 8, p28.

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