What is agent Orange?
What is agent Orange?
Select an option to attempt
Correct Answer: Option B
Explanation
Agent Orange was a tactical herbicide/defoliant used extensively by the US military during the Vietnam War (1961–1971) under Operation Ranch Hand to destroy jungle canopy and crops. It was a 1:1 mixture of two herbicides: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). The 2,4,5-T component was contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) — an extremely toxic persistent organic pollutant. TCDD exposure causes chloracne, cancer, birth defects, and immune/endocrine disruption. Agent Orange is named for the colour of the barrels it was stored in, not its chemical colour.