Agent Orange and Cancer Risk

Agent Orange has been linked to a higher risk of certain cancers and other serious health problems. Not everyone exposed to Agent Orange will get cancer. If you were exposed, let your doctor or health care team know. They can help guide you to the right screening and care.

What is Agent Orange?

Agent Orange was a mix of plant-killing chemicals (herbicides) used by the United States military during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971. It was used to remove trees, destroy crops, and clear vegetation in Vietnam. The name Agent Orange came from the orange stripe on its storage drum.

The two active ingredients in Agent Orange were 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). In addition, there was also a contaminant called 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). TCDD belongs to a family of chemicals known as dioxins. It is a byproduct from the herbicide’s production.

About 3 million Americans served in the armed forces in Vietnam and nearby areas. Many of those veterans were exposed to Agent Orange, including those who sprayed it and flew the planes that carried it. Other people in the area were exposed to it as well.

People could have been exposed to Agent Orange by breathing it in, eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or getting it on their skin or in their eyes. The chemicals, including TCDD, also settled into the soil, contaminating the ground. A key challenge in knowing the health effects of Agent Orange is that there is very little information on how much, or even which chemicals, a person was exposed to.

Agent Orange isn’t being made or used today. The chemicals that were used during the Vietnam War, however, can still be found in the soil and water in Vietnam. The chemical continues to affect people’s health.

Does Agent Orange cause cancer?

Studies have linked Agent Orange to several health problems, including cancer.

What do expert agencies say?

In general, the American Cancer Society (ACS) does not determine whether something should be considered a carcinogen (something that can cause cancer). Instead, ACS looks to other respected organizations for help with this.

Based on current research, several expert agencies have made the following determinations:

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization, has classified TCDD as “known to be carcinogenic to humans.”
• The US National Toxicology Program (NTP) has classified TCDD as “known to be a human carcinogen.”
• The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified TCDD as a “probable human carcinogen.”

The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has linked exposure to Agent Orange (and some other herbicides) to certain cancers and conditions that can come before cancer. These include:

Sufficient evidence of an association

• Soft tissue sarcoma (other than Kaposi sarcoma)
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
• Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin disease)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), hairy cell leukemia, and other chronic B-cell leukemias
• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a condition that can sometimes develop into multiple myeloma

Limited/suggestive evidence of an association

• Cancers of the lung, bronchus, and trachea (windpipe)
• Cancer of the larynx (voice box)
• Prostate cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Bladder cancer

To learn more about how cancer causes are studied and classified, see How Do We Know What Causes Cancer? and Known and Probable Human Carcinogens.

What do studies show?

Researchers use 2 main types of studies to try to determine if something might cause cancer:

• Lab studies are done using lab animals or cells in lab dishes.
• Studies in people compare groups to see if people with higher exposures are more likely to develop cancer.

Often, neither type of study provides conclusive evidence on its own. Both human and lab-based studies are reviewed when trying to figure out if something causes cancer.

Studies in the lab

Studies in rats, mice, and hamsters show that long-term exposure to TCDD can cause tumors in several organs. They include the liver, thyroid, lungs, skin, and mouth. TCDD is one of the strongest cancer-causing chemicals tested in animals.

Studies in people

Studies of Agent Orange in people have focused primarily on Vietnam War veterans, workers who made these chemicals, and people exposed in industrial accidents. Some of these studies have followed thousands of people for decades.

Research shows that Agent Orange exposure is linked to certain leukemias and lymphomas. It may also increase the risk of some other cancers, such as prostate, lung, and bladder cancer. Studies show that higher exposure often means higher risk.

Overall, the evidence is strong and fits with what is known from studies in animals. This evidence helped lead agencies like IARC and NTP to classify TCDD as a known human carcinogen.

Can Vietnam veterans be tested for Agent Orange exposure?

No lab test can prove past exposure to Agent Orange. Because of this, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presumes that all veterans who served in certain places at certain times might have been exposed. These veterans could qualify for benefits for certain health conditions linked to that exposure.

Benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange

Vietnam veterans and those who served in some other nearby locations (such as Thailand or the Korean Demilitarized Zone) and were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides may be eligible for several types of benefits:

Health care and registry exams. Veterans who may have been exposed can receive medical care through the VA for conditions linked to Agent Orange. This includes the Agent Orange Registry health exam, which provides a free medical exam, lab tests, and specialty referrals, if appropriate. Veterans do not need to enroll in the VA health care system to receive the registry exam.

The VA provides medical care at VA facilities, prescription medicines, and home health and hospice care to veterans with conditions linked with herbicide exposure in Vietnam. These include the cancers thought to be related to Agent Orange, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Disability compensation. Veterans who develop health conditions related to Agent Orange exposure, including some types of cancer, can receive monthly compensation payments. The amount is determined by the extent of disability.

The cancers considered by the US government as related to Agent Orange exposure correspond closely to the cancers found to have “sufficient” or “limited/suggestive” evidence of an association. Veterans with other types of cancer can still file for disability benefits, although they’ll need to submit more supporting evidence for the claim.

Life insurance and survivor benefits. Veterans affected by certain health conditions may be eligible for VA life insurance or benefits for their dependents if the veteran passes away from an illness related to Agent Orange.

To learn if you might be eligible for these benefits, call the VA at 1-800-749-8387 or visit its website.

Other things veterans can do for their health

Be sure your doctor knows if you have been exposed to Agent Orange. Because of the possibility of increased cancer risk, your doctor might advise you to get certain cancer screening tests and to promptly report any suspicious symptoms.

Of course, veterans are at risk for many types of cancer just like everyone else, even if they haven’t been exposed to Agent Orange. You can lower your risk of cancer (and other diseases) by:

• Not smoking or using any form of tobacco
• Getting to and staying at a healthy weight
• Doing regular physical activity
• Eating a healthy diet, including avoiding or limiting alcohol

If you are concerned about having been exposed to Agent Orange, you may want to join a support group online or through your local VA hospital.

Where to find more information

The following organizations may also offer helpful information. The American Cancer Society is not affiliated with or responsible for these resources.

Department of Veterans Affairs
Special Health Issues: 1-800-749-8387
Benefits (including disability compensation): 1-800-827-1000
Information on Agent Orange

Vietnam Veterans of America
1-800-882-1316 (1-800-VVA-1316)
Information on Agent Orange

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Veterans and Agent Orange