Agent Orange is a chemical that was used extensively during the Vietnam War as an herbicide to defoliate the Vietnamese jungle. Through the course of the war, millions of gallons of Agent Orange were used.
Dioxins, which are contaminants within Agent Orange created during the production process, are thought to be the causative agent for Agent Orange-related health problems.
Agent Orange has been directly linked to birth defects as well as other health problems.
The Relationship Between Prostate Cancer and Agent Orange
The largest study that analyzed the link between Agent Orange and prostate cancer examined the medical records of more than 13,000 Vietnam War veterans.
Among those men who had reported exposure to Agent Orange, there was a significantly higher rate of diagnosed prostate cancer when compared to similar men who reported no exposure.
The study also showed that those men with reported Agent Orange exposure also had prostate cancers that were more aggressive (had higher Gleason scores) and that were more likely to already have metastasized at the time of diagnosis.
Source:
Chamie K, DeVere White RW, Lee D, et al. Agent Orange exposure, Vietnam War veterans, and the risk of prostate cancer. Cancer. 2008 Nov 1;113(9):2464-70.
