Agent Orange which is also known as orange herbicide was used during the Vietnam War by the United States as an strategy to expose their enemies and deny them the access to food (Department of Veteran’s Affairs 2013). The use of agent orange brought a lot of devastating effects such as health risks and damage to the environment such as loss of biodiversity in the forests of Vietnam. The purpose of this essay is the health and environmental effects caused by the toxic component TCDD, which agent orange contains. This essay will discuss the toxicity of the chemical structure of Agent Orange and the intended consequences of its use. Finally, it will discuss the unintended consequences of its use and its long term effects.
Agent Orange is a mixture consisting of two phenoxy acids which are 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. However, an toxic dioxin known as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was found to have contaminated trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5,-T) (Hoenemeyer 2013). TCDD polychlorinated dioxin causes various health problems and can cause miscarriages during pregnancies. It form color is transparent to white at room temperature (National Toxicology Program, Department of Health and Human Services 2011). On Table 1 below it can be concluded that TCDD is is very volatile and has a very low solubility on water. It also has a very high melting point.
Table 1. Chemical and physical properties of TCDD.
Source: Public Health Service, 2011
TCDD is usually formed by burning compounds that contain chlorine with hydrocarbons. It is a toxic dioxin because it contains a chlorine atom in its 2,3,7 and 8 position in the molecule as the figure below shows (Dioxinspin 2007). The amount of contamination of TCDD depends on the pressure and temperature when the reaction was done. The chemical formula for TCDD is C12H4Cl4O2
Source: Campbell & Thacker, 2011
The figure below shows the problem that caused the creation of TCDD on Agent Orange which was an exceeding temperature for the reaction causing the 2,3,5 chlorophenol molecules start reacting with each other forming TCDD (Campbell & Thacker 2011).
Source: Campbell & Thacker, 2011
Orange Agent was intended to be used as an strategy to help win the Vietnam War. The use of Agent Orange was to refuse cover to the guerillas by destroying all the foliage areas and eliminate the communication between them. Also to destroy their supplies of crops. Another use of Agent orange was to make some areas inhabitable so that villagers will move out and the military can use it for strategies.
The product was made from 4-methylcyclohexanol. The chemical, 4-methylcyclohexanol is used in industrial settings. In 2014, West Virginia was exposed to this chemical in drinking water. Since this chemical is used to wash coal of its impurities, it was unsafe to drink the water as well as take a shower (CNN). Similarly, 4-methylcyclohexanol has a strong smell which may cause people to have symptoms like vomiting, skin irritation, and trouble breathing. Diesel is also replaced by 4-methylcyclohexanol (National Geographic).
This last process is significant not only because it brought dioxin the current notoriety but it also is a chemical process used to make products that were used and are still been used in many applications. These applications include pesticide, herbicide, defoliating agent such as Agent Orange, cleaning agent and electrical insulation. Consequently, human exposure to dioxin is not a recent phenomenon and the dangers of dioxin are not unknown. Only in recent years, especially after the Vietnam War, has the media concentrated on the dangers and impact of dioxin.
The authors of each supporting article help prove my claim of neglect by the Department of Veteran Affairs and public for the Vietnam veterans exposed to the herbicide, Agent Orange, as well as the herbicide causing the veterans physical and psychological distress. The credibility of the articles is supported not only by the authors’ credentials but also in the reoccurrence of facts in each article. For example, concerning the disregard by the Department of Veteran Affairs of stated illness by Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, the authors of “Agent Orange Exposure and Attributes Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans” argue “the DVA assumption is inconsistent with the scientific principles governing determinations of disease causation” (Cecil and Young, 2011). Supporting this claim, the authors of “The Use of Epidemiological Evidence on the Compensation of Veterans” argue regarding the process of Veteran Affairs connecting illnesses to Agent Orange “the current process for making presumptions is regarded by some key stakeholders, particularly the veterans service organizations and the veterans themselves, as flawed; its
On April 12, 1961, the first application of the chemical nicknamed Agent Orange was sprayed on Vietnamese foliage in an attempt to stop guerilla warfare, launching a herbicidal disaster ("Herbicidal Warfare"). The consequences of agent orange, unbeknownst to the former government officials, led to a series of catastrophic effects including, but not limited to neurobehavioral and physical anomalies of the human body. As a result of the lacking knowledge of Agent Orange, the United States and Vietnam are still cleaning up the herbicidal mess that could have been avoided (Magnuson). Decades later, scientific evidence proved that the use of the dioxin herbicide Agent Orange was linked to many physical and neurobehavior disorders (Poremba).
The herbicide warfare used during the Vietnam War? Well, crazy fact triclosan and agent orange are compound cousins. Triclosan another harmful ingredient is a known pesticide, however, is considered an antibacterial in toothpaste. The FDA banned the antibacterial chemical from soaps. Again, it’s allowed in toothpaste. That top-selling toothpaste brand, Colgate Total claims the benefits (fights plaque and gingivitis) outweighs any risk present from the ingestion of triclosan. The world is so weird, isn’t it? Triclosan is a major component of the problem antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is when the bodies antibiotics have lost their ability to control or kill bacteria growth. In simple form, the bacteria resist the antibiotics and continue to multiply. The dangers of triclosan over the years have shown evidence of its negative effects on humans. Hormonal problems, allergies, and even cancer. Studies have shown that triclosan alters testosterone and thyroid serum levels, estrogen adapters and synthesis. Triclosan stores itself in Breast milk and blood which could lead to long-term effects that could potentially be passed along, affecting immune system health, fertility and
Warwick, Hugh. “Agent Orange: The Poisoning of Vietnam.” The Ecologist v28 no. 5. 1998: 264-265.
Agent Orange is a dangerous pollutant that has caused countless birth defects and cancers in both the Vietnamese civilian populous and the U.S. military personnel that served on land and in brown-water navy units that were responsible for intercostal riverine operations in the Republic of Vietnam. The extent to which US military members were exposed to Agent Orange is still a matter of debate and congressional inquiries to this date over 40 years after its employment on the battlefield ended.
"Chemical Warfare Agents - Resources on the health effects from chemical weapons, emergency response & treatment, counterterrorism, and emergency preparedness.au.af." Specialized Information Services - Reliable information on toxicology, environmental health, chemistry, HIV/AIDS, and minority health. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2010.
"Veterans and Agent Orange: Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam." Veterans and Agent Orange: Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam. N.p., 1994. Web. 3 Apr. 2011. .
Men in the Vietnam War did not know why they were there fighting in Vietnam and what their purpose was there. The United States justified their involvement in the war by asserting that they were combating communism and preventing communistic North Vietnam from taking over the more democratic South Vietnam. This affected the soldiers because they did not know why they were there killing the innocent villagers and civilians. They destroyed land and crops to combat the Viet Cong and the effects of Agent Orange, the toxin used to destroy the vegetation, are still prevalent today. A second reason the United States (U.S.) justified their implication in the Vietnam War was to prevent the spread of communism across Asia. The U.S. came up with the Domino Theory and said that if Vietnam became a communist country then so would the countries around it and so on and so forth (Herring). This war on communism did not bring any solutions because even today Vietnam is still a communist country; therefore, the soldiers do not feel they had fought for a real cause. No one received anything that was satisfactory to him or her from the war. The men ended up going home scared for life at the violence and deat...
EPA. (2009, December 29). Retrieved January 15, 2011, from Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health: http://www.epa.gov/teach/
"Agent Orange Update Supports Association Between Herbicides and Veterans' Diseases." Institute of Medicine News [Washington] 14 March 1996
The Vietnam and other wars have mentally and sometimes physically dismembered many veterans. Another factor that plays a role in a war-related suicide is the addition of many on-site diseases such as defoliants, Agent Orange in particular. Made up of equal parts N-Butyl Ester 2,4,-D and N-Butyl Ester 2,4,5,-T, Agent Orange made many Vietnam soldiers go insane (Vietnam Veterans, 11-10-2000). This atrocious chemical lead and still today leads to death, deformation, and diabetes. Dr. Joel E. Michalek, who deals with statistics for the air force, was the first to notice a link between Agent Orange and diabetes. But the federal government was not willing “...to spend millions of dollars on such studies”. Dr. Michael Gough, a retired biologist was quoted as saying “the conclusion I’ve come to is that there is no evidence whatsoever to support any connection between low-level dioxin exposure and any human disease”. Some say they will not do research because it is another thing “...that will be linked to the health complaints of Vietnam veterans” (Kolata, A16). There is hope still. In 1996, Clinton ordered disability benefits for Vietnam veterans suffering from prostate cancer and nerve disease associated with Agent Orange. Eventually, the government will fund more and more diseases for those who served in the war and were exposed to the substances.
a chemical called Agent Orange or 2,4d Herbicide which is basically what the United States
The chemical has colorless liquid, with characteristic odor. A harmful contamination of the air will be reached on evaporation of this substance at 20'C.