Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was used to prevent Communist forces from using the jungle for cover, to destroy the food supply of Communist forces and to clear areas of the jungle for U.S. occupation. Agent Orange contains dioxin, which has known biological and physical effects. Both Vietnamese citizens and war veterans have experienced health problems as a result of Agent Orange exposure. Health problems include birth defects, skin diseases and transient peripheral neuropathy. Agent Orange may also be responsible for some instances of Parkinson's and heart diseases.
The Origin of Agent Orange
Arthur Galston's research into the chemical triiodobenzoic acid led to the development of Agent Orange, which gets its name from the orange, striped barrels in which it was stored. Agent Orange was one of a number of "Rainbow Herbicides" in use by the U.S. Army. The other "Rainbow Herbicides" included Agents White, Blue, Green, Pink and Purple.
Agent Orange is a 50/50 blend of two separate compounds:2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Agent Orange also contains 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin as a byproduct of the manufacturing process.
When and Where Agent Orange Was Used
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. military herbicide program was in place between 1962 and 1971 with spraying occurring in all four military zones between January 1965 and April 1970. By the VA's estimation, more than 19 million gallons of various herbicide combinations were used. The U.S. Army heavily sprayed areas of inland forest in the demarcation zone, along the borders of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam and areas north and northwest of Saigon. There was also heavy spraying in the mangrove forests on the southernmost peninsula of Vietnam and along the major shipping channels southeast of Saigon.
Physical and Neurological Effects of Agent Orange
Agent Orange contains high amounts of dioxin. According to the World Health Organization, short-term exposure to high levels of dioxins causes skin damage and altered liver function. Long-term exposure causes immune system impairment and damage to the nervous, endocrine and reproductive systems in developing fetuses. Dioxin is also a known carcinogen.
According to the VA, there are several diseases associated specifically with Agent Orange exposure, including Hodgkin's disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and type 2 diabetes. Agent Orange also causes a neurological disorder known as acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy. Agent Orange has recently been linked to an elevated risk for Parkinson's, another neurological disorder. Symptoms and effects of Agent Orange exposure may take months or even years to appear.
Acute and Subacute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nervous system, which consists of the nerves that transmit information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body. The peripheral nervous system carries sensory messages and motor impulses. When this system is damaged, it can cause numbness and weakness in the limbs and nerve pain. The peripheral nervous system also controls the heartbeat, and damage to this system could result in heart rate irregularities.
The VA recognizes acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy as a result of Agent Orange exposure but not chronic peripheral neuropathy. By the VA's regulations, the condition must be at least 10 percent disabling within one year of exposure and resolve within two years after the date of onset.
Parkinson's Disease
A 2009 study by the Institute of Medicine shows "suggestive but limited" evidence of an elevated risk for Parkinson's disease among soldiers who served in Vietnam. Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls movement. Symptoms include hand tremors, stiffness in the extremities and trunk, poor balance and coordination, and slow movements. As the disease progresses, patients may have trouble walking, talking and performing simple tasks. Depression and sleep problems also exist with Parkinson's. The VA currently has no criteria for Parkinson's.
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