Agent Orange cleanup a lingering issue for U.S. and Viet Nam

Although Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to Washington last week was primarily based on facilitating a bolstered economic partnership with the U.S., the unresolved issue of Agent Orange was also a topic of discourse, Voice of America reported today.

According to a recent scientific study, the area around a former U.S. base in Viet Nam contains toxic levels of dioxin, the poisonous chemical found in Agent Orange. With an estimated three million Vietnamese citizens suffering from dioxin poisoning, Hanoi continues to advance the prospect of a U.S.-funded cleanup initiative.

While the U.S. had previously disregarded calls to provide help on the dioxin issue, recent appropriations have allowed for enhanced cleanup and treatment programs. Although $3 million has been allocated for such initiatives, the total cost of cleanup is thought to be in excess of $200 million.

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