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The Complications of Agent Orange Exposure

About 20 million gallons of an herbicide known as Agent Orange, named for the orange identifying stripe painted on the 55-gallon drums that contained it, were sprayed over Vietnam between 1961 and 1971. Its purpose was to defoliate hiding places of the enemy. Agent Orange contains a toxic substance known as dioxin that research has linked to a number of medical complications and diseases.

  1. Cancers

    • Several types of cancers have been linked with Agent Orange. They include chronic B-cell leukemias, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers and soft tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma or nesothelioma).

    Diabetes

    • The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes type 2 diabetes as a potential result of exposure to Agent Orange, although it is not conclusively caused by Agent Orange. Type 2 diabetes involves the body producing high blood-sugar levels when it cannot properly respond to the hormone insulin.

    Other Complications

    • The Department of Veterans Affairs lists several other complications and diseases as being linked to Agent Orange. They include acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, AL amyloidosis, chloracne (or similar acneform disease), ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease and porphyria cutanea tarda. Spina bifida and other birth defects of children born to Vietnam veterans are also often thought to be linked to the veterans' exposure to Agent Orange.

    Benefits and Compensation

    • Veterans, surviving spouses and children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange may be eligible for benefits from the federal government. Medical care is available for veterans and for children who were born with birth defects to veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Children with birth defects may also be eligible for compensation and vocational training. Veterans who wish to find out if they may be eligible for these programs should contact their nearest Veterans Affairs medical center to undergo a medical exam.

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