Agent Orange

Agent Orange

Introduction

I. Does anyone know about or ever heard of Agent Orange?

II. At least one, if not all of you may know someone who is affected by the herbicide.

III. I have lived with a Vietnam Veteran affected by Agent Orange all of my life.

IV. Through my experience and through research, I've learned a lot about what Agent Orange is, how it affects veterans and their families, and the measures used to help affected Veterans and their families.

(Transition: Let's begin by talking about what Agent Orange is.)

Body

I. What Agent Orange is.

Source: Agent Orange. (2006, April 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 27, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange

A. Agent Orange was an herbicide used in Vietnam to kill unwanted plants and to remove leaves on trees that provided cover for the enemy.

B. Agent Orange was also used to deny food to the enemy.

C. Agent Orange was used from 1961-1971, according to Wikipedia.

D. The U.S. military used more than 19 million gallons of herbicide.

E. The name "Agent Orange" came from orange stripe on the drums in which the herbicide was stored.

F. Most of Agent Orange sprayed was delivered from U.S. air force aircrafts, and other methods included helicopters and truck and hand spraying.

G. From 1968 on, an improved version known as "Orange II" or "Super Orange" was used as well.

(Transition: Now that we've talked about what Agent Orange is, let's talk about how it affects veterans and their families.)

II. How Agent Orange affects Vietnam Veterans and their families.

Source: www.va.gov/agentorange. Updated December 1, 2005 by U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

A. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs website, a dioxin named (TCDD) found in Agent Orange may be related to a number of cancers and other health problems.

B. The website also states that the VA has listed prostate and respiratory cancers, type 2 diabetes, bone cancer, and leukemia as some of the effects of the herbicide.

C. The herbicide is linked to other health problems such as female reproductive cancers, spontaneous abortion,