articles The extent and patterns of usage of （文章的程度和模式的使用）.pdf

articles The extent and patterns of usage of Agent Orange and other herbicides in Vietnam Jeanne Mager Stellman*, Steven D. Stellman†‡, Richard Christian§, Tracy Weber* Carrie Tomasallo* * Departments of Health Policy and Management and † Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 600 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA ‡ Institute for Cancer Prevention, One Dana Road, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA § 2102 Old Stage Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, USA Herbicides including Agent Orange were sprayed by United States forces for military purposes during the Vietnam War (1961– 1971) at a rate more than an order of magnitude greater than for similar domestic weed control. In 1974, the US National Academy of Sciences published estimates of the extent and distribution of herbicides sprayed. Here we present revised estimates, developed using more-complete data. The spray inventory is expanded by more than seven million litres, in particular with heavily dioxin-contaminated herbicides. Estimates for the amount of dioxin sprayed are almost doubled. Hamlet census data reveal that millions of Vietnamese were likely to have been sprayed upon directly. Our identification of specific military herbicide targets has led to a more coherent understanding of spraying. Common errors in earlier interpretations of the spray data are also discussed. Between 1961 and 1971 herbicide mixtures, nicknamed by the Background to military use of chemical defoliants coloured identification band painted on their 208-litre storage The DoD’s Advanced Research Project Agency’s (ARPA) Project barrels, were used by United States and Republic of Vietnam forces Agile was instrumental in the US development of herbicides as a to defoliate forests and mangroves, to clear perimeters of military military weapon, an undertaking inspired by the success