Introduction

History
  Korea
  Vietnam

Riot Control Agents
  CS
  DM

Incendiaries
  White Phosphorous
  Napalm

Operation Ranch Hand
  Mission Overview
  Defoliants Used
     Components
     Agent Orange
        Dioxin
     Agent White
      Agent Blue

Ecology

Ambiguities of Vietnam
  Yellow Rain
  Operation Tailwind
  CW Test On Sailors
  Dissenting Warriors

References

Links

 
 

 

Agent Orange

Agent Orange was the most widely used defoliant in Vietnam. It was used between 1965-1970 (1), and over 60% of all herbicide used in Vietnam was Agent Orange (2). Agent Orange was sprayed heavily along the borders of Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam, with some crop destruction missions in the north east of South Vietnam


Mape of Vietnam (6) Map of Vietnam wher agent organe was sprayed (1)

Agent Orange is composed of two active chemicals: 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), and 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5-T) (1). Some chemical info on these components is as follows:

2,4-D (3)
MW= 221g/mol
C8H4Cl2O3
b.p. 160*C
m.p. 138*C
2,4-D LD50- 500 mg/Kg (3)

2,4,5-T (4)
MW= 253g/mol
C8H5Cl3O3
Contaminated with dioxin (1.77-40 ppm)(2)
b.p.- decomposes
m.p.- 153*C
2,4,5-T LD50- 300 mg/Kg (4)
2,4-D(5) 2,4-T(5)

The controversial part of Agent Orange is the side product of 2,4,5-T synthesis, which is dioxin

PREVIOUS