defoliants (Agent Orange)

Defoliants, like Agent Orange, are chemicals used to remove leaves from plants quickly, often to clear areas of dense foliage. During the Vietnam War, Agent Orange was widely used by the U.S. military to eliminate enemy cover and crops. It contains toxic compounds called dioxins, which can cause serious health issues such as cancer, birth defects, and other long-term illnesses in humans and wildlife. While effective for their purpose, these chemicals have had lasting environmental and health impacts, making their use highly controversial and led to ongoing health and environmental concerns.