How many people exposed to agent orange

Requirements for Agent Orange presumptive diseases When sound medical and scientific evidence shows that an illness is caused by Agent Orange exposure, we add it to our list of presumptive diseases. Bladder cancer: A type of cancer that affects the bladder where urine is stored before it leaves the body.

The most common type of bladder cancer starts in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. This is called urothelial or transitional cell carcinoma. Chronic B-cell leukemia : A type of cancer that affects white blood cells.

It also causes red blood cells to decrease more and more over time called anemia. Multiple myeloma : A type of cancer that affects the plasma cells. These are a type of white blood cells made in the bone marrow that help to fight infection. These are parts of the immune system that help to fight infection and illness. Prostate cancer : Cancer of the prostate and one of the most common cancers among men Respiratory cancers including lung cancer : Cancers of the organs involved in breathing.

These include cancers of the lungs, larynx, trachea, and bronchus. Some soft tissue sarcomas : A group of different types of cancers in body tissues such as muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and connective tissues. These include the organs like the heart, kidneys, or liver. Chloracne or other types of acneiform disease like it : A skin condition that happens soon after exposure to chemicals.

It looks like common forms of acne often seen in teenagers. This leads to high blood sugar levels. Hypothyroidism: A condition that causes the thyroid gland to not produce enough of certain important hormones. Hypothyroidism can cause health problems like obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease. This leads to chest pain. Parkinsonism: Any condition that causes a combination of abnormal movements.

These include slow movements, trouble speaking, stiff muscles, or tremors. Tremors are rhythmic shaking movements in a part of the body caused by muscle contractions that you can't control. The nervous system is the network of nerves and fibers that send messages between the brain and spinal cord and other areas of the body.

Peripheral neuropathy, early onset : An illness of the nervous system that causes numbness, tingling, and motor or muscle weakness. Porphyria cutanea tarda : A rare illness that can make the liver stop working the way it should. It can also cause the skin to thin and blister when exposed to the sun. Service requirements for presumption of exposure We base eligibility for VA disability compensation benefits, in part, on whether you served in a location that exposed you to Agent Orange.

By recognizing that those who have died of dioxin-related health issues are casualties of war, and the cultural, economic and diplomatic consequences of wartime actions, the U. Former American military bases and the Da Nang Airport have been the primary targets. These actions have gone a long way in building both confidence and collaboration between our countries.

And finally, the legacy of Agent Orange is beginning to cast less of a shadow. But after losing more than 58, American comrades on the battlefield in Vietnam, the lives of those who returned home were never the same. Half a century later many lives are still being lost due to horrific health issues and chemically-induced genetic mutations. While they did not die on the battlefield in Vietnam, the deadly repercussions of Agent Orange have known no boundaries.

This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here. More From Forbes. Nov 12, , am EST. Nov 11, , pm EST. Nov 10, , pm EST. Nov 10, , am EST. Edit Story. Agent Orange, which contained the deadly chemical dioxin, was the most commonly used herbicide. It was later proven to cause serious health issues—including cancer, birth defects, rashes and severe psychological and neurological problems—among the Vietnamese people as well as among returning U.

During the Vietnam War , the U. S military engaged in an aggressive program of chemical warfare codenamed Operation Ranch Hand. From to , the U. During this process, crops and water sources used by the non-combatant native population of South Vietnam were also hit.

In all, American forces used more than 20 million gallons of herbicides in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia during the years of Operation Ranch Hand. Herbicides were also sprayed from trucks and hand-sprayers around U. The various herbicides used during Operation Ranch Hand were referred to by the colored marks on the gallon drums in which the chemicals were shipped and stored.

In addition to Agent Orange, the U. Each of these—manufactured by Monsanto, Dow Chemical and other companies—had different chemical chemical additives in varying strengths. Agent Orange was the most widely used herbicide in Vietnam, and the most potent. More than 13 million gallons of Agent Orange was used in Vietnam, or almost two-thirds of the total amount of herbicides used during the entire Vietnam War.

It was found in varying concentrations in all the different herbicides used in Vietnam. Dioxins are also created from trash incineration; burning gas, oil and coal; cigarette smoking and in different manufacturing processes such as bleaching. Dioxin is a highly persistent chemical compound that lasts for many years in the environment, particularly in soil, lake and river sediments and in the food chain.

Dioxin accumulates in fatty tissue in the bodies of fish, birds and other animals. Most human exposure is through foods such as meats, poultry, dairy products, eggs, shellfish and fish. Studies done on laboratory animals have proven that dioxin is highly toxic even in minute doses.

It is universally known to be a carcinogen a cancer-causing agent. Short-term exposure to dioxin can cause darkening of the skin, liver problems and a severe acne-like skin disease called chloracne. Additionally, dioxin is linked to type 2 diabetes, immune system dysfunction, nerve disorders, muscular dysfunction, hormone disruption and heart disease. Developing fetuses are particularly sensitive to dioxin, which is also linked to miscarriages, spina bifida and other problems with fetal brain and nervous system development.

In , Dr. However, because the material was to be used on the enemy, none of us were overly concerned. We never considered a scenario in which our own personnel would become contaminated with the herbicide. In , a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of 2.