Abstract:
Chemical Warfare has always been a scary idea, but it is far more terrifying when the weapon yields unanticipated effects, leading to disastrous consequences. This paper intends to research the role that chemical warfare and Agent Orange played in the Vietnam War and how the presence of dangerous chemical contaminants had negative impacts on the health of those afflicted.
Why was Agent Orange used and what was it made up of?
During the Vietnam War, the US army decided to engage in chemical warfare through a program known as Operation Ranch Hand. The US military sprayed a variety of herbicides across Vietnam to raze the forest cover and food crops that the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops relied on. Apart from Agent Orange, herbicides such as Agent Pink, Agent Blue, Agent Green, Agent Purple and Agent White were used as well. However, Agent Orange was the most commonly used and even had different variations.
Agent Orange was known to mainly be a mixture of 2 compounds, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (Fig. 1) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (Fig. 2).
(Fig. 1) (Fig. 2)
This mixture however, also contained trace amounts of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) (Fig. 3). It is known that TCDD was responsible for a majority of the medical problems and ailments associated with Agent Orange.
(Fig. 3)
All three of the constituent compounds do not absorb well through the skin and as such, they were primarily absorbed through the consumption of contaminated food products. The first two compounds can be excreted from the body speedily as urine. However, due to the fat-soluble nature of TCDD, it stays in the fat deposits of the body for long periods of time. It is helpful to keep in mind that TCDD has a half-life of 10 years, further supporting the fact that it undergoes very slow metabolism.
What are the characteristics of TCDD?
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin has an empirical formula of C12H4Cl4O2. At room temperature, TCDD is a crystalline solid. It is sparingly soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in water. TCDD is stable to heating, acids and alkalis and will decompose upon exposure to ultraviolet light. It has a melting point of 305℃ and decomposes at temperatures higher than 700℃.
What were the effects of exposure to TCDD?
The exposure to TCDD resulted in several negative side-effects. Short-term exposure to this Dioxin compound resulted in skin lesions, patchy darkening of the skin and altered liver function. Long-term exposure would lead to deterioration of the immune system, the developing nervous system, the endocrine system and reproductive capabilities and functions. According to a study published by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, exposure to TCDD also increased the probability of female births. Additionally, exposure to such dioxins has resulted in altered thyroid hormones and developmental dental defects.
For infants, who were breast-fed from mothers who were exposed to high levels of dioxin, the negative effects kick in around the age of 7 months in the form of poor psycho-motor outcome. It has also been linked to a greater incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder traits in children.
Conclusion
In summary, although the main constituents of Agent Orange were 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, the chemical that was the most dangerous to the human body was the one present in trace amounts, TCDD. The presence of this compound had devastating effects on those who were exposed to it, and even managed to affect the children of those who were exposed to TCDD, even though these children were born after Operation Ranch Hand.
Citation:
(Cover image source: Private Autospy Services)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, June 6). 2,3,7,8 -tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, "dioxin") (84-104). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/84-104/default.html#:~:text=TCDD%20is%20one%20of%20a,and%20essentially%20insoluble%20in%20water.
History.com Editors. (n.d.). Agent Orange - History. History.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange-1
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