Urologic Cancer Risks for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

摘要

Agent Orange received its name from the orange-colored stripe that was used to identify the contents of the 40 gallon barrel in which the chemical was shipped and stored. Agent Orange is an herbicide, which is the combination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5,-T) mixed in equal parts (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 1994). It was discovered in 1970 that 2,4,5-T was inadvertently contaminated during the manufacturing process with small amounts of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). TCDD is one of the most toxic dioxins, and is a known ter-atogen and carcinogen (IOM, 2011). Known as Operation Ranch Hand, the military conducted intense Agent Orange spraying around military bases in Vietnam and Laos from 1962-1971 to clear the dense vegetation for base construction. It was sprayed from helicopters and planes, trucks and boats, and using backpack sprayers. The most intensive use was between 1967-1969