Summary
Summary Agent Orange
- Course
- Institution
A summary of the purpose and uses of Agent Orange.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Cloud9Docs
Content preview
Agent OrangeAgent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant. It was a tactical herbicide, the U.S. military
used to get rid of leaves and vegetation for military operations mainly during the Vietnam War.
The veterans, who were subject to Agent Orange, may have certain related cancers or other
illnesses.
The two active ingredients in the Agent Orange herbicide combination were equal amounts of
2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid). The
combination of the two ingredients, contained traces of TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-
dioxin), which was an unwanted product of herbicide production. TCDD is a carcinogen
(something that causes cancer) and is where the real danger of Agent Orange lies. TCDD (a
dioxin) is absorbed and stored in fat tissue. Illnesses that come due to putting oneself at a risk
of Agent Orange, include: many kinds of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, certain types of
heart and liver diseases and hypothyroidism.
Agent Orange was sprayed at up to 20 times the concentration the manufacturers
recommended for killing plants. It defoliated millions of acres of forests and farmland. Large
areas of that land remain degraded and useless to this day. The chemical dioxin in Agent
Orange can remain toxic in the soil for decades. Soil samples have now been analysed from
both the areas that were heavily sprayed and the former American military bases where Agent
Orange and other chemicals were stored and handled. In almost all cases, measured dioxin
levels were below Government of Vietnam threshold standards. However some soils at three of
the former military bases did have very high concentrations of dioxin. To prevent dioxin from
entering the food chain and affecting both adults and children in surrounding areas, these
chemical “hot spots” are now being cleaned up.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Cloud9Docs. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.86. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53068 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now