Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide used by the United States, Korea, Canada, and several other countries between 1950 and 1971, has been found to be extremely detrimental to human health. Unlike exposure to other toxins, many Agent Orange symptoms tend to take several years to decades to present, and can cause a host of health issues. Initial symptoms tend to include common side effects found with many other illnesses, as well as neurological and psychological problems. Exposure to this herbicide can also result in the development of a variety of cancers, heart diseases, and other health conditions, as well as mild to severe birth defects in the children of those exposed.
Initial exposure can result in mild to severe symptoms. Queasiness and vomiting tend to be the most common, and a person may develop kidney stones or ulcers. Other intestinal symptoms of Agent Orange include jaundice, stomach pain, and liver irritation. These Agent Orange effects typically occur shortly after contact with the herbicide, although some people may not have any symptoms of exposure until well afterward.
This herbicide can also cause severe neurological and emotional symptoms, which may become apparent directly after exposure or several years later. Headaches and odd sensations throughout the body, including tingling and numbness, are some of the most common Agent Orange symptoms. A person may also become unusually violent towards himself or others, and there is can be an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or tendencies.
Some of the most well-known symptoms of Agent Orange are the diseases that result from exposure to this herbicide. The development of cancer is one of the primary issues, and many different types have been linked to Agent Orange. Cancer of the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes are all considered Agent Orange symptoms. Prostate cancer and cancers of the lungs, throat, and other respiratory organs can also be caused by this herbicide.
Exposure to Agent Orange has also been linked to a variety of heart diseases, including a restriction of blood flow to the heart, often resulting in heart failure. Symptoms also include increased blood pressure, which can result in several other issues with the heart, including heart attacks and strokes, when not properly managed. Those exposed to Agent Orange often develop issues with muscle control, weakness, and a lack of feeling in one or more areas of the body.
Agent Orange symptoms can also affect the children of those exposed, despite the fact that they were not exposed to the substance themselves. This typically presents in the form of several different birth defects. In severe cases, a child may be born with damage to vital organs, or even missing certain organs or body parts. In general, a child having either a mother or father who was exposed to this toxin is at increased risk for these birth defects. Those who were exposed to Agent Orange, whether male or female, also have an increased risk of them or their partner experiencing a miscarriage.