Joint Vietnamese and U.S. Efforts to Remediate Consequences of the Vietnam War

Agent Orange containing 2,3,7,8-TCDD, the most toxic dioxin, was heavily sprayed on locations in Vietnam during the Second Indochina War or the Vietnam war. This was used to defoliate jungles where fighers against the US government and the South Vietnam government could hide. It was also to destroy crops used to feed these persons or their families. In addition, heavy bombing occured on various locations, disrupting family and work life and destroying homes, farms, forests and other habitations or work areas including health care facilities. The chemicals used can cause serious health issues including cancers, congenital malformations or birth defects, lower immune system function, brain and peripheral nerve damage, lost limbs, psychological damage, severe cosmetic injury, loss of sight, hearing and various other conditions. Nutritional deficiencies also can lead to other damage. The US and communist government of Vietnam were at war during the 1960s through 1975. After the war and some diplomatic cooperation began, the US and Vietnam governments slowly began a number of steps to improve conditions for Vietnamese persons. These currently include assistance with vaccinations, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, destruction of dioxin contaminated soil and sediment at some dioxin "hot spots" or areas where there are high levels of dioxin from Agent Orange. 

This presentation will focus on dioxin contaminated people, food, wildlife, soil and sediment and efforts to clean up soil and sediment, inform persons what foods should not be consumed due to dioxin contamination, heat destruction of dioxin in soil or sediment from "hot spots" and compensation to "victims of Agent Orange" as defined by government agencies in Vietnam. This latter will be contrasted with US government approaches to the about 3,000,000 US Vietnam veterans.