What is Agent Orange?

Agent Orange is one of the herbicides used during the Vietnam War from 1961 – 1971. It is a mixture of 2,4 – Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5 – Trichlorophenoxyacid acid (2,4,5-T). The name Agent Orange for this herbicide mixture came from orange band painted along the side of 55 gallon drums where this chemical mixture were stored.  Due to massive production of this chemical mixture, the control procedure of this chemical mixture was poorly designed. Therefore, it was contaminated with 2,3,7,8 – tetracholodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD).

Source: Photograph VA020611,  Undated, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. Collection, The Vietnam Center and Archive, Texas Tech University. Accessed 14 Nov. 2013.

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