The Tragic Effects Of Agent Orange And The Vietnam War

Richard M. Nixon once stated, “No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now” ("Vietnam War Quotes At Brainyquote"). The Vietnam War is one of the most misunderstood wars in the United State’s history. The Vietnam War is the longest war ever fought by the United States lasting from 1954-1975. This war was highly controversial among the public and has left a lasting impact on the countries involved. One of these impacts is the effect of Agent Orange (Britannica.org). The horrific effects of Agent Orange can still be seen today 50 years later; clearly its use was a mistake.

Agent Orange is an herbicide that was widely used throughout the Vietnam War. The goal of

It was deemed “Agent Orange” due to the orange ring found on its packaging. Agent Orange was government regulated, with its production controlled solely by the United States. The product was standardized and limited to production by only several companies. From 1954 through 1975, the Monsanto Company was one of nine wartime Agent Orange manufacturers ("Monsanto 's Agent Orange: The Persistent Ghost From The Vietnam War"). Other herbicides existed as well, such as Blue, Pink, Green, White, and Purple. However, Agent Orange was found to be most effective, and therefore 60% of the “Agents” used in Vietnam were Orange. It is estimated that 11.4 million gallons of Agent Orange were used during the war. Cargo planes dumped most; the rest was sprayed on the ground by trucks or by hand. Agent Orange is fairly simple; it is just a 50/50 mixture of two different herbicides. These two components are: 2, 4-D and 2,4,5-T. These chemicals only remain potent for a few days or weeks before breaking down, though not all of the substance ever broke down. Dioxide is the byproduct of mixing these two chemicals. Dioxide’s half-life is much longer than any of the other components,

The effects of Agent Orange are not only evident in regards to health issues and the birth defects of later generations, but through the environment as well. The once lush jungles and forests, especially in South Vietnam, have been decimated. It will take hundreds of years for them to recuperate to their original states. Animal species have seen a decline in numbers. Rivers and aquifers had been contaminated as well, only further damaging the population of Vietnam. Air pollution combined with water pollution creates a long-lasting, dangerous environment for the Vietnamese