Agent-Orange Health Effects

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used a combination of herbicides called the Rainbow program to assist in eliminating tree coverage when fighting in thick forests. Each color of the rainbow was named for the drum in which it was held. Agent Orange was the most widely used herbicide in Vietnam and has had long-lasting negative effects on the soldiers who fought in the area.

History

• Agent Orange was the code name of a combination of herbicides used by the U.S. military to remove protective plant cover during the Vietnam War, between 1962 and 1971. It was used to protect U.S. soldiers and its drastic negative health effects were not known until many years later.

Cancers

• Exposure to Agent Orange is linked to the following cancers: Hairy Cell leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, soft-tissue cancer and respiratory cancer.

Internal-Organ Effects

• Agent Orange causes series illnesses to the internal organs and has been associated with the following diseases: Parkinson's disease, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (liver disfunction and skin blistering), heart disease, diabetes, and ALS when veterans were exposed for at least 90 consecutive days.

Birth Defects

• People exposed to Agent Orange are at risk of passing on birth defects to children. Examples associated with Agent Orange include Spina Bifida, cleft lip and neuroblastomas. Moreover, male veterans exposed to Agent Orange have lower sperm count and women (either female veterans or females carrying children of exposed veterans) have a higher chance of miscarriage.

Compensation

• Veterans suffering from debilitating complications of Agent Orange are able to receive compensation and health benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.