Herbicides contain many different chemicals, but Agent Orange was used as a general term for defoliants. Agent Orange consists of two chemicals in equal parts, “Agent Orange is a combination of two compounds, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, technically known as chlorinated phenoxy acids in ester form”(Rowan John). These two chemicals made up most of Agent Orange, but were are not the most dangerous compound because there was a mistake in the manufacturing of this defoliant. This mistake in manufacturing resulted in an unintentional byproduct called 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin that contaminated the herbicide into something even more toxic. This contaminate, also know dioxin, was one of the most deadly dioxins to existed. “Levels of dioxin in Agent Orange ranged from less than 0.05 parts per million to almost 50 parts per million”(Rowan, John). The levels of dioxin in Agent Orange varied in ever barrel; this made it impossible to know what areas would have more severe side effects. Agent Orange was later categorized as a human carcinogen, leading to numerous health
Herbicides contain many different chemicals, but Agent Orange was used as a general term for defoliants. Agent Orange consists of two chemicals in equal parts, “Agent Orange is a combination of two compounds, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, technically known as chlorinated phenoxy acids in ester form”(Rowan John). These two chemicals made up most of Agent Orange, but were are not the most dangerous compound because there was a mistake in the manufacturing of this defoliant. This mistake in manufacturing resulted in an unintentional byproduct called 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin that contaminated the herbicide into something even more toxic. This contaminate, also know dioxin, was one of the most deadly dioxins to existed. “Levels of dioxin in Agent Orange ranged from less than 0.05 parts per million to almost 50 parts per million”(Rowan, John). The levels of dioxin in Agent Orange varied in ever barrel; this made it impossible to know what areas would have more severe side effects. Agent Orange was later categorized as a human carcinogen, leading to numerous health