The Long Shadow of Wartime Chemical Pollution: Reflections on the Vietnam War and Contemporary Conflicts

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DOI

https://doi.org/{{DOI}}

Published

2025-12-15

License

CC BY 4.0

Access

Open access

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Type

Article

Local ID

2025-0003

Version

VoR

Citation

Goncharova T. The Long Shadow of Wartime Chemical Pollution: Reflections on the Vietnam War and Contemporary Conflicts. Pollution and Diseases. 2025; 1: 59-66.

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Abstract

War produces not only immediate destruction but also deep, persistent environmental consequences. This article offers a scholarly reflection on Kenneth R. Olson’s book “Agent Orange: Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Herbicide Use During and After the Vietnam War” and evaluates its relevance in understanding present-day ecological risks arising from the war in Ukraine. By integrating historical, ecological, and scientific analysis, the article underscores the long-lasting effects of chemical contamination and the urgent need for environmental accountability during an armed conflict.

Key words: Agent Orange, dioxin, Vietnam War, Ukraine war, wartime pollution, environmental contamination, ecocide, soil science