AGENT ORANGE AND ITS DEVASTATING

EFFECTSBy: Emerson Saum, Jake Buckey, Megan Reilly-Cruz, and Aleethea

Tyler

The Background Information

Agent Orange was a chemical used by American Troops, during the Vietnam war.

It was named after the orange stripe painted on its’ 55-gallon barrel.

Used to Defoliate the Jungle and Forest that the Southern Vietnam troops used for cover.

Also used to induce forced urbanization draft.

U.S. planes sprayed some 11-12 million gallons of it between 1961-1971.

Why Agent Orange was used

Agent Orange was the most effective chemical spray the U.S. Government had ever used.

Contained Dioxin which even in small doses is very toxic.

5 million acres of forest destroyed. 500,000 acres of crop land destroyed. Before After

Devastating!!!

Agent Orange Creation

Arthur Galston created the herbicide in 1943, trying to help soy beans grow quicker.

Noticed that it was extremely effective at defoliation.

Galston was very concerned about the potential health effects on humans.

Was also concerned about ecological damage, it endangered many shellfish and migratory fish.

Galston opposed the use of it in war. Asserted that Agent Orange harm could

continue for an untold amount of time.

Use by U.S. Military

Used primarily in Operation Ranch Hand U.S. troops were told that the spray was used

to kill crops that guerrillas were eating when in reality it was the peasants who ate the vast majority of the food.

Chemicals in the spray frequently ended up in water and crop supplies.

The U.S. Air force flew nearly 20,000 missions. 10% of total land area sprayed at least once. 20% of forest cover sprayed at least once.

Pictures

Ecological damage

“Trees are our enemy.” Hundreds of tree species were effected. Minimum of 20 million cubic meters destroyed

estimates of up to 90 million persist. Of the upland forests sprayed, the hardest hit

were the dense forests of Ma Da, Phu Binh, Sa Thay, A Luoi and along Route 19.

259,000 acres of mangroves. Afterward many invasive species of grass arrived. Many species habitat were greatly destroyed. Rats and Mice thrived because of the damage.

How the trees were affected

After 2 or 3 weeks of being sprayed the leaves would begin to fall off.

The leaves would remain bare until the next rainy season.

The denser the forest the more sprays that were required.

10% of trees died from a single spraying. Sometimes the herbicide missions were

paired with napalm and bombing strikes.

Species that were affected

Restoration

Began with Mangrove trees more than 190,000 have been replanted.

Upland forest restoration is much more difficult.

Recent developments have intensified and many of the species are returning.

Restoration is hindered by economic incentives post-war.

It would take 100 plus years to bring Vietnam back to prewar standards.

Disease, Illnesses, and Cancers Caused By Agent Orange

a) Soft Tissue Sarcoma b) Lymphoma Non-Hodgkin c) Hodgkin’s Disease d) Chloracne e) Respiratory Cancer f) Prostate Cancer g) Multiple Myeloma h) Spina bifida i) Porphiria Cutanea Tarda j) Peripheral Neuropathy k) Type 2 Diabetes l) Reproductive Abnormalities (in people who contact with toxic chemical/dioxin

or the wife, daughter, daughter-in-law or granddaughter, granddaughter-in-law

of people who contact with toxic chemical/dioxin). m) Liver Cancer n) Neurological Defects o) Birth Defects (Children)

Human effects of Agent Orange

4.5 million of 18 million people who live in Vietnam were exposed to the sprayings

Estimates that 3 million Vietnamese were effected

150,000 children were born with birth defects in Vietnam

The toxin was in the soil and common sense can describe

Many American Troops and their offspring suffered from it

Lawsuits over Agent Orange

Since 1978 several law suits have been filed against Dow Chemical, Monsanto, and Diamond Shamrock the companies producing Agent Orange.

On May 4, 1984 seven chemical companies agreed to pay 180 million to victims if no other lawsuits were brought forth.

The courts continue to fight over rights for the veterans.

H.R. 543: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013.

Groups Working for Victims Rights and Advocacy

Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange is Vietnamese rights group who filed a lawsuit citing international law in 2004.

Agent Orange Act signed into Law in 1991 by Pres. George. W. Bush.

U. S.- Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin supports $300 million plan of action in 2007.

Vietnam Red Cross has raised $22 million for those who are sick or disabled.

Works Cited

Shayla Harris, Amatatham, P. “Cleaning Agent Orange,” The New York Times, 9 Aug. 2012. 4 Dec. 2013.http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23 /us/23galston.html?_r=0

Fred A. Wilcox, Waiting for an Army to Die: The Tragedy of Agent Orange, AOR Agent Orange Record” http://www.agentorangerecord.com/information/the_quest_for_additional_relief/P1/, 2012. 6 Dec 2013.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/feb/10/agentofsuffering

Institute of Medicine, “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure,” http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Blue-Water-Navy-Vietnam-Veterans-and-Agent-Orange-Exposure.aspx

National Academy of Sciences. 4 Sept. 2013. 5 Dec. 2013

Aspen Institute

http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000001713916/cleaning-agent-orange.html?smid=pl-share