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Use F11
AGENT ORANGE
:
An Overview
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Agent Orange was the nickname
given to a powerful herbicide and defoliant used by the
U.S. military in its
Herbicidal Warfare program during the
Vietnam War
The aim of the program was two-fold, one to destroy the "cover" provided by the
jungle-like
forest, and another to deny food to the enemy. First named Operation
Trail Dust, then Operation Hades, it was finally renamed Operation Ranch Hand.!!
Between 1961 and 1971, the U.S. military in South Vietnam used more than 20
million gallons of herbicides for defoliation and crop destruction.
Several types and combinations of chemicals were used. These mixtures were
identified by the
color of the stripe on the storage drums. The three most
common mixtures were Agent Orange,
Agent White, and Agent Blue
(an unrelated herbicide based on arsenic used to kill rice plants).
They contained deadly dioxins.
Fifteen different herbicides were shipped to and used in Vietnam.
Agent Orange was used between January 1965 and April 1970.
From 1968 on, an improved version known as "Orange II" or "Super Orange" was
also used.
Herbicides other than Agent Orange were used in Vietnam prior to 1965, but to a
very limited
extent.
The total area sprayed with herbicides between 1962 and 1965 was quite small.
Some of the herbicides used in the early years contained greater concentrations
of dioxins.
In total about 6 million acres (24,000 km²) in Vietnam were sprayed with dioxin
defoliants.
Dioxins are one of the most toxic chemicals known to man.
Permissible levels are measured in parts per trillion, the ideal level is zero.
The Agent Orange manufactured by Monsanto (one of 15 manufacturer/suppliers in
the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia) contained TCDD, extremely deadly
even when measured against other dioxins.
The levels found in domestic herbicide (for US-consumption) were around 0.05 ppm.
Those shipped to Vietnam peaked at 50 ppm, i.e. 1,000 times higher than the norm.!!
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica,
"The toxicity of dioxin renders it capable of killing some species of newborn
mammals and fish
at levels of five parts per trillion (or one ounce in six million tons).
Less than two millionths of an ounce will kill a mouse.
Its toxic properties are enhanced by the fact that it can pass into the body
through all major
routes of entry,
including the skin (by direct contact), the lungs (by inhaling dust, fumes or
vapors) or
through the mouth.
Entry through any of these routes contributes to the total body burden."
Diseases proven or suspected to be associated with dioxin exposure are :
chloracne, soft tissue sarcomas, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's disease,
diabetes, respiratory cancers, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, Porphyria
cutanea tarda (a type of skin disease), acute and subacute transient peripheral
neuropathy, spina bifida, Type 2 diabetes,
acute myelogenous leukemia (found
only in the second or third generation), hepatobiliary
cancers, nasal or
nasophargyngeal cancers, bone cancer, female reproductive cancers, renal cancer,
testicular cancer, leukemia, spontaneous abortion, birth defects, neonatal or
infant death and stillbirths, low birth weight, childhood cancers, abnormal
sperm parameters, cognitive neuropsychiatric disorders, ataxia, peripheral
nervous system disorders, circulatory disorders, respiratory disorders, skin
cancers, urinary and bladder cancer, gastrointestinal tumors such as stomach
cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, and brain tumors.
Since the 1980s, several lawsuits have been filed against the companies who
produced Agent Orange, among them being Dow Chemical and Monsanto.
U.S. veterans
obtained $180 million in compensation in 1984, while Australian, Canadian and
New Zealand veterans also obtained compensation in an out-of-court settlement
the same year.
In 1999, 20,000 South Koreans filed a lawsuit in Korea; in January 2006, the
Korean Appeal Court ordered Monsanto and Dow to pay $62 million in compensation
to about 6,800 people.
However,
NO VIETNAMESE VICTIMS HAVE YET
RECEIVED COMPENSATION !!
and
on March 10, 2005 Judge Jack Weinstein of Brooklyn Federal Court dismissed
the lawsuit filed
by
the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange against the chemical companies that
produced the defoliants/herbicides.
"
DIRECTION ZERO "
IS A SMALL ATTEMPT TO CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING
TO NEGATE THIS SHAMEFUL DECISION.
For those wishing to further follow this appalling story of genocide and
international deceit,
please
Click here
for
the Story of Agent Orange
(courtesy of US Veterans
Dispatch Staff Report).
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Vietnam War
RAINBOW HERBICIDES AND THEIR COMPONENTS:
- Agent Orange: 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T; used between January 1965 and April 1970.
- Agent Orange II (Super Orange): 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T; used in 1968 and 1969.
- Agent Purple: 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T; used between January 1962 and 1964.
- Agent Pink: 2,4,5-T; used between 1962 and 1964.
- Agent Green: 2,4,5-T; used between 1962 and 1964.
- Agent White: Picloram and 2,4-D.
- Agent Blue: contained cacodylic acid (arsenic).
- Dinoxol: 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T; used between 1962 and 1964.
- Trinoxol: 2,4,5-T; used between 1962 and 1964.
- Diquat: Used between 1962 and 1964.
- Bromacil: Used between 1962 and 1964.
- Tandex: Used between 1962 and 1964.
- Monuron: Used between 1962 and 1964.
- Diuron: Used between 1962 and 1964.
- Dalapon: Used between 1962 and 1964.