Herbicides are generally used in small amounts in clearing land for agriculture or removing weeds, but in Vietnam, over 20 million gallons of it was used to destroy plants that the enemy used for concealment. Helicopters were used to spray the chemical over 4.5 million acres of land.
Herbicides are known to cause severe defects in those who are exposed, and this was no exception. Agent Orange was the most potent of the many used in Vietnam, as its active ingredients caused trees to lose their leaves. It also contained a toxic byproduct, TCDD, a type of dioxin and carcinogen. TCDD is a persistent chemical compound that can last for years in the environment, accumulating in the fatty tissue of fish, birds, and other animals. Millions were exposed to this chemical via foods such as fish, poultry, and others.
As veterans returned home from Vietnam, their families and others in the US started reporting skin irritations, birth defects in children, and various different cancers in higher rates. It was found that these afflictions were connected to the exposure of Agent Orange in Vietnam since the chemical was known to cause defects in those exposed. Lawsuits were filed on behalf of the millions of veterans affected until the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to pay $240 million in compensation. However, this didn't prevent over 400,000 from being killed due to the herbicide and millions suffering from illnesses derived from Agent Orange. The Vietnamese also filed lawsuits for compensation, but the US has yet to compensate them since doing so would mean admitting the war crimes done in Vietnam.
Source: http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange
https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/herbicide.htm
Thus was a really interesting post. I never knew about Agent Orange until today and the devastating effects. In 2012, America finally responded to Vietnam's requests of cleaning up the damages due to Agent Orange. While it isn't close to enough, they decided to help clean up and detoxify the soil at Danang International Airport. To read more about the lack of America's efforts help Vietnam, see the link below. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/world/asia/us-moves-to-address-agent-orange-contamination-in-vietnam.html
ReplyDeleteThis was a really great post! I was aware of the atrocities committed in Vietnam, however I hadn't heard of this one. Apparently, the thousands who survived the effects of Agent Orange suffered birth defects. The birth defects were passed from one generation to the next and as a result, the horrors of Agent Orange have manifested in up to 4 generations of Vietnamese.
ReplyDeletehttp://theconversation.com/agent-orange-exposed-how-u-s-chemical-warfare-in-vietnam-unleashed-a-slow-moving-disaster-84572
In accord with everyone else, I thought this was an interesting topic that you don't hear about; this was my first time hearing about it as well. To be honest, while definitely terrible and inhumane, I think the idea to use herbicides on a massive scale is pretty clever. I wonder if Agent Orange was produced specifically for the US government, or if it was just a general herbicide that was bought up en masse?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have heard the name "Agent Orange" before, I never knew how widespread its effects were on people, and how long lasting it is in an environment. What surprised me was the fact that the American government was willing to send troops into areas affected by Agent Orange, without the foresight to realize that it was a deadly chemical. In addition to the 400,000 veterans that were affected by exposure to Agent Orange, over 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed, 3 million of which have been or are still suffering from a life threatening disease. Why do you think the US government still used this herbicide even if, like you said, "Herbicides are known to cause severe defects in those who are exposed"?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/agent-orange-vietnam-war-us-damir-sagolj-a7664491.html
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/agent-orange-in-vietnam-program/what-is-agent-orange/