a powerful herbicide and
defoliant containing
trace amounts of
dioxin, a
toxic impurity suspected of causing serious health problems, including cancer and
genetic damage, in some persons exposed to it, and
birth defects in their offspring; used by US armed forces during the
Vietnam War to defoliate jungles (1965–1970). The name Agent
Orange came from the
color of the identifying stripe on the drums in which it was stored. See also
dioxin and