The chemical defoliant ‘Agent Orange’ was banned because
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the synthetic auxin used in the preparation, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), caused premature growth in humans
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the synthetic auxin used in the preparation, 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), caused plants to grow more vigorously than the environment could sustain
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a contaminant in the preparation of 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) caused disease and birth defects in humans
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a contaminant in the preparation of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) killed beneficial plants
Agent Orange—or Herbicide Orange (HO)—is one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. It was a mixture of equal parts of two herbicides, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D. According to a study by one Vietnamese scientist, Dr. Nguyen Viet Nhan, children in the areas where Agent Orange was used have been affected and have multiple health problems, including cleft palate, mental disabilities, hernias, and extra fingers and toes. Hence, it was banned.