For decades, concerns from the citizens of Guam as well as
many United States military veterans have circulated about the reported use of
the toxic herbicide Agent Orange on the island. Now, the United States federal
government has begun to address the issue for the first time since a class
action lawsuit was filed in 1979. Sampling of the soil at multiple subsites
across Guam starting in spring of 2018, resulted in inconclusive findings. A
new series of tests are currently underway, results are expected to be
announced soon.
The recent attention to concerns of toxic herbicides like
Agent Orange can largely be attributed to Master Sergeant Leroy Foster, who has
testified to spraying tens of thousands of gallons over Guam in deforestation
operations. Foster states that his exposure to Agent Orange has caused him
various diseases, including as well as cancer. Foster is not the only veteran
who has made similar claims regarding his exposure to Agent Orange during the
Vietnam War. The previously mentioned class action lawsuit brought against the
US government resulted in a $180 million payout, spread across thousands of
veterans who had been exposed to the herbicide.
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