Understanding Agent Orange and Cancer Risk: Lasting Health Impacts of a Global Conflict

From 1962 to 1971, the United States military sprayed nearly 19 million gallons (80 million liters) of herbicidal chemicals across Vietnam as part of Operation Ranch Hand. More than half of this volume was Agent Orange. It was intended to destroy forest cover and farmland, but it has also impacted generations of Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laos residents, as well as tens of thousands service members from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Health concerns, including blood cancer, caused by Agent Orange exposure continue to affect these groups more than 50 years later. 

What is Agent Orange, and how could it impact so many people’s lives? 

Agent Orange is a mixture of two herbicides that was created to remove foliage and farmland. Agent Orange received its name from the orange stripe painted on its storage barrels and was one of several “Rainbow Herbicides” created for vegetation removal.

Agent Orange itself breaks down quickly, with a half-life that lasts days to weeks after it is applied to vegetation. The concern, however, comes from TCDD, a dioxin (an environmental pollutant) formed during the production of one of Agent Orange’s components. The half-life of TCDD depends on where it settles. On soil fully exposed to sunlight, it may remain for one to three years. When buried in tropical subsoils, it can persist for twenty to fifty years or longer. In river and sea sediments, its half-life can extend beyond a century. 

The decision that changed everything

The United States had studied herbicides during World War II, though they were not used in combat at the time. During the Vietnam War, these compounds were deployed to reduce forest cover and agricultural resources that could support the local population.

The scale of spraying was unprecedented. Roughly 2.9 million hectares (about 35 times the size of New York City) of forests and farmland were polluted. About 20,000 Vietnamese villages were directly sprayed, exposing residents and contaminating soil, water, and food sources. 

Exposure reached far beyond Vietnam to Laos, and Cambodia. Service members from multiple countries working near the area and travelers passing through were also affected. For many, this experience raised long-term health questions that extended to their children and grandchildren, even today.

Agent Orange’s environmental impact to date

Dioxin is highly stable in the environment. It binds tightly to soil particles and accumulates in sediment. It concentrates in fish and other aquatic species, entering the food chain and contributing to ongoing exposure in contaminated regions. Several areas in Vietnam known as dioxin “hotspots” still show measurable concentrations in soil and water. This environmental persistence explains why people can encounter exposure decades after spraying ended.

How Agent Orange lasted through generations of people 

Scientific research has explored potential links between Agent Orange exposure and cancer, metabolic diseases, and other chronic health concerns. Studies conducted through the National Academy of Medicine describe associations between exposure and several conditions, including certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. At the same time, some health effects remain difficult to confirm because exposure records were incomplete and environmental contamination varied widely.

Developmental outcomes and birth defects have been a central focus for both Vietnamese communities and veteran families.

What diseases are associated with Agent Orange exposure? 

How research helped shape policies that support people affected by Agent Orange

Health concerns raised by returning Vietnam veterans led to the Agent Orange Act of 1991. This legislation required ongoing scientific review of available evidence and helped guide decisions about healthcare benefits and recognition of associated conditions. These ongoing reviews allow researchers to update conclusions as new data emerges.

The US government, as an act of accountability to the people who served the US Forces in Vietnam, proposed the Agent Orange exposure and disability compensation. People who served in Vietnam during that period and currently have high blood pressure and MGUS, a precursor condition of multiple myeloma may be eligible to receive a monthly payment. 

Keep reading Understanding Disability Benefits for Veterans

Learning from our history can help support present health

People who believe they may have been exposed can discuss screening and symptom monitoring options with their healthcare team. Veterans may access evaluation programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Individuals in affected regions may benefit from community-based health assessments and environmental monitoring programs.

Understanding the history of Agent Orange can  support informed conversations with care teams and encourages continued learning. To stay updated, explore educational resources on the HealthTree website and remain engaged in discussions that help communities advocate for their health.

Sources:

• Veterans' Diseases Associated with Agent Orange
• Toxic byproducts of Agent Orange continue to pollute Vietnam environment
• Long-Term Fate of Agent Orange and Dioxin TCDD Contaminated Soils and Sediments in Vietnam Hotspots
• The fog of war, the legacy of Agent orange
• Agent Orange and other chemicals in the Vietnam War