Glossary of terms:

2,4-D:

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

2,4,5-T:

2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

Agent Blue:

Code name for cacodylic acid (dimethyl arsenic acid).

Agent Orange:

Code name for mixture of 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid).

Agent White:

Code name for a mixture of an approximate ratio of 4:1 of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid).

Auxins:

Plant hormones. The most important Auxin produced by plants is indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Some of the most common weed killers are synthetic auxins, such as: 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T.

Carcinogenic:

Causing cancer.

Chloracne:

The most clearly established health effect of dioxin in humans is a skin eruption called chloracne.

CS:

(o-chlorobenzalmalonitrile), an anti-personnel (harassing) agent.

Dioxin:

Short for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin, also TCDD.

Dioxin is formed as an unintentional by-product of many industrial processes involving chlorine such as waste incineration, chemical and pesticide manufacturing and pulp and paper bleaching. The major sources of dioxin are in our diet. Since dioxin is fat-soluble, it accumulates in the food chain and it is mainly found in meat and dairy products. In fish alone, the toxins accumulate so that dioxin levels in fish are 100,000 times that of the surrounding environment.

Indolylacetic acid:

(IAA) Was the first plant growth hormone to be discovered.

Malathion:

(S-(1,2-dicarbethoxyethyl)-0,0-dimethyldithiophosphate), an insecticide.

Mutagenic:

Causing genetic damage.

Half Life:

The length of time required for half a quantity of drug, or other substance residing in a living organism to be metabolized, or eliminated by normal biological processes. It is also called the biological half-life. The half-life of dioxin is 8.7 years in humans (as determined in the Ranch Hand (follow-up) studies).

MCPA:

2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid.

Teratogenic:

Causing birth defects.