Agent Orange

Agent Orange consisted of three main chemicals: 2,4,5-t; 2,4-d; and dioxin. 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, also known as 2,4,5-t, is a chemical compound that reads C8H6Cl3O3 and was originally used as a defoliant (“2,4,5-t”). 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) is a chemical known as C8H6Cl2O3  that is used as a weed killer (2,4-d”). Dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin, is a waste incinerator (“Dioxin”). All three of these chemicals created Agent Orange, a herbicide that the United States Military sprayed at least 19 million gallons of all over Vietnam.

American soldiers and Vietnamese people who were exposed to Agent Orange were at a high risk of becoming diagnosed with cancer or other diseases. These illnesses included AL Amyloidosis, Chronic B-cell Leukemias, Chloracne, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Hodgkin’s Disease, Ischemic Heart Disease, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Parkinson’s Disease, Peripheral Neuropathy, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Prostate Cancer, Respiratory cancers, and Soft Tissue Sarcomas (“Agent Orange” Military.com). Birth defects like Spina Bifida were also at risk in offspring (Erickson). The government raised awareness to the illnesses caused by Agent Orange, and by 1991 the Agent Orange Act was passed granting American soldiers medical care provided by the government to Veterans who were exposed (“Agent Orange” History.com). There were a lot of circumstances though that made it hard for Veterans to be recognized for care, so in 2010 the Agent Orange Act was updated so soldiers could access the medical care in an easier manner (Shea).

 

DDT

Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, DDT, was first used in the 1940s during World War II as a pesticide that would poison and kill insects that carried diseases like malaria, and it was also used as a pesticide to kill the insects that ate healthy crops (DDT – A Brief History and Status”). Unfortunately, the insects adapted to the exposure and began to grow immune to DDT. DDT was still used during the Vietnam War in an attempt to control the exposure of malaria from mosquitoes. DDT is made out of 1,1,1- trichloro-2 and 2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (“Toxic Substances Portal”).

Those exposed to DDT were vulnerable of experiencing illnesses that affected the human nervous system. Aside from that, DDT tended to linger in the food it was sprayed on. People would eat this food and increase their chances to illnesses from consumption. By 1972, the usage of DDT was ended with the passage of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, also known as the FIFRA (“DDT Regulatory History”). This act was passed by the EPA and regulated the usage of pesticides, which decreased the chances of exposure and encouraged that pesticides would not be used as much anymore for any reason unless absolutely necessary.

Exposure of DDT affected those in Vietnam with nervous system issues. People were exposed to DDT from the water they drank, the food they ate, and the air they breathed. DDT lingered in the atmosphere for a while after usage ended. Even though the usage decreased, the chances of getting ill from exposure were still high. Today, DDT is still not allowed to be used on crops.

 

Works Cited

“2,4,5-t.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/2,4,5-T.

“2,4-d.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/2,4-D.

“Agent Orange.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Aug. 2018,

www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange-1.

“Agent Orange.” Military.com, www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/

agent-orange.html.

“DDT – A Brief History and Status.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 11 Aug. 2017,

www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status.

“DDT Regulatory History: A Brief Survey (to 1975).” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency,

14 Sept. 2016, archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/ddt-regulatory-history-brief-survey-

1975.html.

“Dioxin.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dioxin.

Erickson, Ralph L. “10 Things Every Veteran Should Know about Agent Orange.” VAntage

Point, 16 May 2016, www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/17744/10-things-every-veteran-

know-agent-orange/.

Shea, Kristyn. “The Agent Orange Act of 1991.” CCK Law, Chilshom Chilsolm & Kilpatrick, 4

Oct. 2018, cck-law.com/news/agent-orange-act-1991.

“Toxic Substances Portal – DDT, DDE, DDD.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 Jan. 2015, www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/

phs.asp?id=79&tid=20.