Agent Orange & Dioxin

The Agent Orange and Dioxin topic includes research on the health effects of exposure to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange and industrial contamination of dioxins.

Dioxins are a group of chemically related compounds that persist in the environment. They can be byproducts of industrial practices, such as improper burning of municipal waste or other trash, and they can be released into the air during natural processes, such as wildfires. The most toxic dioxin was a component of Agent Orange, an herbicide used during the Vietnam War. Dioxin exposure has been linked to several diseases and can cause problems with development, reproduction, the immune system, and hormones.