Agent Orange In Vietnam Essay

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“I have no future, no happiness” (“Eating, Drinking, Touching, Breathing, Nursing, Conceiving”). Do Duc Diu, a father who lost twelve out of his fifteen children from the effects of Agent Orange expresses how Agent Orange has changed the meaning of his life. The effects of Agent Orange are horrific. Any where from 2.1 million to 4.5 million Vietnamese citizens have been exposed from the time of spraying the dioxin-contaminated herbicide ("Health Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin"). It has been nearly forty years since the destructive herbicide was used, and the residents of Vietnam are continuing to be affected. In fact, many citizens live in or near spots where the dioxin exposure is still going on ("Health Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin"). Due to the extreme use of Agent Orange in Vietnam War, many people in Vietnam experience health concerns.
Numerous diseases have been linked to the use of Agent Orange. One of the worst diseases is spina bifida. Spina bifida is a rare birth defect that occurs when the developing
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One cancer that scientist believe to be linked to the dioxin is multiple myeloma. (Agent Orange and Cancer). Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects white blood cells and inhibits the victim’s ability to fight off infections (“Multiple Myeloma”). Not being able to fight off infections can cause many complications. Some complications found with multiple myeloma include low blood cell count, problems with kidney function, bone problems, and frequent infections (“Multiple Myeloma”). There are not many symptoms that come with this disease, in fact, if no symptoms are being experienced, treatment may not be necessary. However, the risk factors of multiple myeloma increase with age (“Multiple Myeloma”). While multiple myeloma is not a serious form of cancer, there has been an increase in cases in Vietnam; “several studies of farmers

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